David Hume

Mankind are always found prodigal both of blood and treasure in the maintenance of public justice.

David Hume

Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature.

David Hume

Men are much oftener thrown on their knees by the melancholy than by the agreeable passions.

David Hume

Men often act knowingly against their interest.

David Hume

Men’s views of things are the result of their understanding alone. Their conduct is regulated by their understanding, their temper, and their passions.

David Hume

Morals excite passions, and produce or prevent actions. Reason of itself is utterly impotent in this particular. The rules of morality, therefore, are not conclusions of our reason.

David Hume

Moving from an objective statement of fact to a subjective statement of value does not work, because it leaves open questions that have not been answered.

David Hume

No conclusions can be more agreeable to scepticism than such as make discoveries concerning the weakness and narrow limits of human reason and capacity.

David Hume

No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.

David Hume

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