Quotes from David Hume

This avidity alone, of acquiring goods and possessions for ourselves and our nearest friends, is insatiable, perpetual, universal, and directly destructive of society.

Though men of delicate taste be rare, they are easily to be distinguished in society by the soundness of their understanding, and the superiority of their faculties above the rest of mankind.

For the purposes of life and conduct, and society, a little good sense is surely better than all this genius, and a little good humour than this extreme sensibility.

.. that a rule, which, in speculation, may seem the most advantageous to society, may yet be found, in practice, totally pernicious and destructive.

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.

When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.

While we are reasoning concerning life, life is gone.

Beauty, whether moral or natural, is felt, more properly than perceived.

It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.

Almost every one has a predominant inclination, to which his other desires and affections submit, and which governs him, though perhaps with some intervals, though the whole course of his life.

The first ideas of religion arose, not from contemplation of the works of nature, but from a concern with regard to the events of life.

Everything in the world is purchased by labor.

No advantages in this world are pure and unmixed.

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.

In all the events of life, we ought still to preserve our scepticism. If we believe that fire warms, or water refreshes, it is only because it costs us too much pains to think otherwise.

There is only one vice, which may be found in life with as strong features, and as high a colouring as needs be employed by any satyrist or comic poet; and that is AVARICE.

Every wise, just, and mild government, by rendering the condition of its subjects easy and secure, will always abound most in people, as well as in commodities and riches.

A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.

What a peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call 'thought'.

The great subverter of Pyrrhonism or the excessive principles of scepticism is action, and employment, and the occupations of common life.

Time is a perishable commodity.

The rules of morality are not the conclusion of our reason.

To hate, to love, to think, to feel, to see; all this is nothing but to perceive.

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