WIST Quotations

Hume, David -- “Of the Parties of Great Britain,” Essays, Political and Moral, vol. 1 (1741)

Dave — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:03:45 +0000

As to ecclesiastical parties; we may observe, that, in all ages of the world, priests have been enemies to liberty; and it is certain, that this steady conduct of theirs must have been founded on fixed reasons of interest and ambition. Liberty of thinking, and of expressing our thoughts, is always fatal to priestly power, and to those pious frauds, on which it is commonly founded; and, by an infallible connexion, which prevails among all kinds of liberty, this privilege can never be enjoyed, at least has never yet been enjoyed, but in a free government.

David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
“Of the Parties of Great Britain,” Essays, Political and Moral, vol. 1 (1741)
(Source)

Hume, David -- “Of the Standard of Taste” (1739)

Dave — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 19:10:54 +0000

Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty. One person may even perceive deformity, where another is sensible of beauty; and every individual ought to acquiesce in his own sentiment, without pretending to regulate those of others.

David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
“Of the Standard of Taste” (1739)
(Source)

Hume, David -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:52:09 +0000

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 (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
(Attributed)
(Source)

Quoted in The Home Circle (Jan 1855)

Hume, David -- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Sec. 10 “Of Miracles,” Part 1 (1748)

Dave — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:03:25 +0000

In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence. […] No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavors to establish.

David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Sec. 10 “Of Miracles,” Part 1 (1748)

Often given as just, "A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence."

Hume, David -- An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Sec. 9.13 “Conclusion, Pt. 1” (1751)

Dave — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:13:57 +0000

Where men are the most sure and arrogant, they are commonly the most mistaken, and have there given reins to passion, without that proper deliberation and suspense, which can alone secure them from the grossest absurdities.

David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Sec. 9.13 “Conclusion, Pt. 1” (1751)

Hume, David -- The Natural History of Religion, ch. 10 “With Regard to Courage or Abasement” (1757)

Dave — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 17:04:09 +0000

The corruption of the best things gives rise to the worst.

David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
The Natural History of Religion, ch. 10 “With Regard to Courage or Abasement” (1757)
(Source)

Hume actually calls this "the vulgar observation," an English translation of the well-known Latin phrase corruptio optimi pessima.