David Hume Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old David Hume quotes, David Hume sayings, and David Hume proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Where ambition can cover its enterprises, even to the person himself, under the appearance of principle, it is the most incurable and inflexible of passions. David Hume
Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them. David Hume
If suicide be supposed a crime, 'tis only cowardice can impel us to it. If it be no crime, both prudence and courage should engage us to rid ourselves at once of existence, when it becomes a burden. David Hume
Nothing endears so much a friend as sorrow for his death. The pleasure of his company has not so powerful an influence. David Hume
Custom is the great guide to human life. David Hume
Any person seasoned with a just sense of the imperfections of natural reason, will fly to revealed truth with the greatest avidity. David Hume
That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise. David Hume
Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider affairs with a philosophical eye, than the ease with which the many are governed by the few. David Hume
Anticipation of pleasure is, in itself, a very considerable pleasure. David Hume
Everything in the world is purchased by labor. David Hume
A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker. David Hume
No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping. David Hume
A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence. David Hume
The corruption of the best things gives rise to the worst. David Hume
A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker. David Hume
A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker. David Hume
The stability of modern governments above the ancient, and the accuracy of modern philosophy, have improved, and probably will still improve, by similar gradations. David Hume
And what is the greatest number? Number one. David Hume
Absolute monarchy is the easiest death, the true Euthanasia of the British constitution. David Hume
A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence. David Hume
The best taxes are such as are levied upon consumptions, especially those of luxury; because such taxes are least felt by the people. They seem, in some measure, voluntary; since a man may choose how far he will use the commodity: They naturally produce sobriety and frugality, if judiciously imposed: And being confounded with the natural price of the commodity, they are scarcely perceived by the consumers. Their only disadvantage is that they are expensive in the levying. David Hume
Accuracy is, in every case, advantageous to beauty, and just reasoning to delicate sentiment. In vain would we exalt the one by depreciating the other. David Hume
Scholastic learning and polemical divinity retarded the growth of all true knowledge. David Hume
The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster. David Hume
Superstition is an enemy to civil liberty. David Hume
No amount of observations of white swans can allow the inference that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion. David Hume
No human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion. David Hume
The most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation David Hume
It is not reason which is the guide of life, but custom. David Hume
Obscurity, indeed, is painful to the mind as well as to the eye; but to bring light from obscurity, by whatever labour, must needsbe delightful and rejoicing. David Hume