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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Immanuel Kant Prussian German Philosopher
- Thomas Reid Scottish Philosopher
- John Stuart Mill English Philosopher, Economist
- Bertrand A. Russell British Philosopher, Mathematician
- Adam Smith Scottish Philosopher
- John Locke English Philosopher
- James Mill Scottish Philosopher
- R. G. Collingwood British Historian, Philosopher
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz German Philosopher, Mathematician
- Francis Bacon English Philosopher
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