The most perfect happiness, surely, must arise from the contemplation of the most perfect object.

— David Hume

The most unhappy of all men is he who believes himself to be so.

— David Hume

There are instances, indeed, wherein men shew a vanity in resembling a great man in his countenance, shape, air, or other minute circumstances, that contribute not in any degree to his reputation; but it must be confessed’d, that this extends not very far, nor is of any considerable moment in these affections. For this I assign the following reason. We can never have a vanity of resembling in trifles any person, unless he is possess’d of very shining qualities, which give us a respect and veneration for him. These qualities, then, are, properly speaking, the causes of our vanity, by means of their relation to ourselves. Now after what manner are they related to ourselves? They are parts of the person we value, and consequently connected with these trifles; which are also suppose’d to be parts of him. These trifles are connected with the resembling qualities in us; and these qualities in us, being parts, are connected with the whole; and by that means form a chain of several links betwixt ourselves and the shining qualities of the person we resemble. But besides that this multitude of relations must weaken the connection; ’tis evident the mind, in passing from the shining qualities to the trivial ones, must buy that contrast the better perceive the minuteness of the latter, and be in some measure Assam’d of the comparison and resemblance.

— David Hume

There is no method of reasoning more common, and yet none more blamable, then, in philosophical disputes, to endeavor the refutation of any hypothesis, by a pretence of its dangerous consequences of religion and morality. When any opinion leads to absurdities, it is certainly false; but it is not certain that an opinion is false, because it is of dangerous consequence. Such topics, therefore, ought entirely to be forborne; as serving nothing to the discovery of truth, but only to make the person of an antagonist odious.

— David Hume

There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education and learning, as to secure us against all delusion in themselves.

— 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.

— David Hume

This from the resemblance of the external actions of animals to those we ourselves perform, that we judge their internal likewise to resemble ours; and the same principle of reasoning, carry'd one step further, will make us conclude that since our internal actions resemble each other, the causes, from which they are derive'd, must also be resembling. When any hypothesis, therefore, is advance'd to explain a mental operation, which is common to men and beasts, we must apply the same hypothesis to both.

— David Hume

This world, for aught he knows, is very faulty and imperfect, compared to a superior standard; and was only the first rude essay of some infant deity, who afterward abandoned it, ashamed of his lame performance: it is the work only of some dependent, inferior deity; and is the object of derision to his superiors: it is the production of old age and dotage in some superannuated deity; and ever since his death, has run on at adventures, from the first impulse and active force which it received from him.

— David Hume

To be a philosophical Skeptic is the first and most essential step towards being a sound, believing Christian.

— David Hume

Truth springs from argument amongst friends.

— David Hume