Sourced and curated.

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 5.2

In contriving any system of government, and fixing the several checks and controls of the constitution, every man ought to be supposed a knave, and to have no other end, in all his actions, than private interest.

Essays, Moral and Political · 1741

★ 4.4

In all ages of the world, priests have been enemies to liberty.

1741

★ 3.9

The heart of man is made to reconcile contradictions.

1741

★ 3.9

Custom, then, is the great guide of human life.

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 3.9

Treatise · Philosophical literature

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 3.8

Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them.

1758

★ 3.8

A propensity to hope and joy is real riches: One to fear and sorrow, real poverty.

1758

★ 3.8

The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.

1776

★ 3.8

Avarice, the spur of industry, is so obstinate a passion, and works its way through so many real dangers and difficulties, that it is not likely to be scared by an imaginary danger, which is so small, that it scarcely admits of calculation.

1741

★ 3.7

The Christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one. Mere reason is insufficient to convince us of its veracity: And whoever is moved by Faith to assent to it, is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person, which subverts all the principles of his understanding, and gives him a determination to believe what is most contrary to custom and experience.

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 3.7

If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning, concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 3.7

A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.

Poets...tho' liars by profession, always endeavour to give an air of truth to their fictions.

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 2.2

Treatise · Philosophical literature

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 2.1

Money... Is none of the wheels of trade: It is the oil which renders the motion of the wheels more smooth and easy.

Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.

1752

★ 2.1

Treatise · Philosophical literature

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 2.0

The great advantage of the mathematical sciences above the moral consists in this, that the ideas of the former, being sensible, are always clear and determinate.

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 2.0

Opposing one species of superstition to another, set them a quarrelling; while we ourselves, during their fury and contention, happily make our escape, into the calm, tho' obscure, regions of philosophy.

1757

★ 2.0

In all matters of opinion and science... The difference among men is...oftener found to lie in generals than in particulars: and to be less in reality than in appearance. An explanation of the terms commonly ends the controversy; and the disputants are surprised to find, that they had been quarrelling, while at bottom they agreed in their judgement.