Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by David Hume (Scottish Philosopher, Historian)

David Hume (1711–76) was a Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian. He rejected the possibility of certainty in knowledge and claimed that all the data of reason stem from experience by the senses.

Born in Edinburgh, Hume was fascinated by literature and philosophy at a young age. He became obsessed with the idea of truth; it caused him to lose his faith when he was 18 years old. After finishing his studies, he moved to France for private studies, and wrote his Treatise of Human Nature (1739–40,) in which he argued that reasoning was merely the habit of the mind as it attempted to make sense of random events, and that reason would never be adequate to arrive at the ultimate cause of anything. He argued that it was impossible to go beyond the subjective experiences of impressions and ideas. He also wrote An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748,) An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751,) and Essays: Moral, Political, and Literary (1752.)

In 1755, the Church of England tried to prosecute Hume for his religious skepticism, but the case was dismissed. Hume thus became one of the first to openly question the existence of God without almost no consequences.

Hume’s philosophical writings went overlooked during his lifetime, and the considerable fame he achieved derived from his work as an essayist and a historian. While working as a librarian, Hume wrote the six-volume History of England (1762,) which became a best-seller for more than a century and gave him the financial independence to write and revise his many philosophical treatises.

Hume became the leading figure of a group of Scottish intellectuals, including the economist Adam Smith (who invented the study of economics,) Adam Ferguson (who helped invent sociology,) James Hutton (who invented geology,) Joseph Black and William Cullen (who invented modern chemistry,) James Watt (who developed the steam engine,) James Boswell (who wrote the biography of Samuel Johnson,) Walter Scott (who wrote the first great novel,) and Hugh Blair (the first University professor to teach a course in English literature.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by David Hume

In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.
—David Hume
Topics: Vanity

Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients; action, pleasure, and indolence. And though these ingredients ought to be mixed in different proportions, according to the disposition of the person, yet no one ingredient can be entirely wanting without destroying in some measure the relish of the whole composition.
—David Hume
Topics: Happiness

To be happy, the temperament must be cheerful and gay, not gloomy and melancholy.—A propensity to hope and joy, is real riches; one to fear and sorrow, is real poverty.
—David Hume
Topics: Cheerfulness, Hope

The figure which a man makes in life, the reception which he meets with in company, the esteem paid him by his acquaintance—all these depend as much upon his good sense and judgment, as upon any other part, of his character. A man of the best intentions, and farthest removed from all injustice and violence, would never be able to make himself much regarded, without a moderate share of parts and understanding.
—David Hume
Topics: Common Sense

Human life is more governed by fortune than by reason.
—David Hume
Topics: Fortune

All advantages are attended with disadvantages.—A universal compensation prevails in all conditions of being and existence.
—David Hume

Truth springs from argument amongst friends.
—David Hume
Topics: One liners, Arguments, Friendship

The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness. For this were arts invented, sciences cultivated, laws ordained, and societies modeled, by the most profound wisdom of patriots and legislators. Even the lonely savage, who lies exposed to the inclemency of the elements and the fury of wild beasts, forgets not, for a moment, this grand object of his being.
—David Hume
Topics: Happiness

Such superiority do the pursuits of literature possess above every other occupation, that even he who attains but a mediocrity in them, merits the pre eminence above those who excel the most in the common and vulgar professions.
—David Hume
Topics: Literature

The law always limits every power it gives.
—David Hume
Topics: Power

Character is the result of a system of stereotyped principals.
—David Hume
Topics: Character

Avarice, the spur of industry.
—David Hume
Topics: Greed

If refined sense and exalted sense be not so useful as common sense, their rarity, their novelty, and the nobleness of their objects make some compensation, and render them the admiration of mankind; as gold, though less serviceable than iron, acquires from its scarcity a value which is much superior.
—David Hume

Weakness, fear, melancholy, together with ignorance, are the true sources of superstition. Hope, pride, presumption, a warm indignation, together with ignorance, are the true sources of enthusiasm.
—David Hume
Topics: Superstition, Enthusiasm

A man’s genius is always, in the beginning of life, as much unknown to himself as to others; and it is only after frequent trials, attended with success, that he dares think himself equal to those undertakings in which those who have succeeded have fixed the admiration of mankind.
—David Hume
Topics: Genius

Disbelief in futurity loosens in a great measure the ties of morality, and may be for that reason pernicious to the peace of civil society.
—David Hume
Topics: Beliefs

And what is the greatest number? Number one.
—David Hume
Topics: Competition

Praise never gives us much pleasure unless it concur with our own opinion, and extol us for those qualities in which we chiefly excel.
—David Hume
Topics: Praise

Among the other excellencies of man, this is one, that he can form the image of perfection much beyond what he has experience of in himself, and is not limited in his conception of wisdom and virtue.
—David Hume
Topics: Perfection

The sublime, says Longinus, “is often nothing but the echo or image of magnanimity” and where this quality appears in any one, even though a syllable be not uttered, it excites our applause and admiration.
—David Hume

Delicacy of taste is favorable to love and friendship, by confining our choice to few people, and making us indifferent to the company and conversation of the greater part of men.
—David Hume
Topics: Taste

It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause, for this may be done by one great or wise action in an age; but to escape censure a man must pass his whole life without saying or doing one ill or foolish thing.
—David Hume
Topics: Criticism

Trivial circumstances, which show the manners of the age, are often more instructive as well as entertaining, than the great transactions of wars and negotiations, which are nearly similar in all periods, and in all countries of the world.
—David Hume

Such is the nature of novelty that I where anything pleases it becomes doubly agreeable if new; but if it displeases, it is doubly displeasing on that I very account.
—David Hume

Art may make a suite of clothes, but nature must produce a man.
—David Hume
Topics: Nature

Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding.
—David Hume
Topics: Conversation, Eloquence

A man’s time, when well husbanded, is like a cultivated field, of which a few acres produces more of what is useful to life, than extensive provinces, even of the richest soil, when overrun with weeds and brambles.
—David Hume
Topics: Time

Luxury is a word of uncertain signification, and may be taken in a good as in a bad sense
—David Hume
Topics: Luxury

It is certain that a serious attention to the sciences and liberal arts softens and humanizes the temper, and cherishes those fine emotions in which true virtue and honor consist. It very rarely happens that a man of taste and learning is not, at least, an honest man, whatever frailties may attend him.
—David Hume
Topics: Science

The sweetest and most inoffensive path of life leads through the avenues of science and learning; and whoever can either remove any obstruction in this way, or open up any new prospect, ought, so far, to be esteemed a benefactor to mankind.
—David Hume
Topics: Learning

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