In public affairs men are often better pleased that the truth, though known to everybody, should be wrapped up under a decent cover than if it were exposed in open daylight to the eyes of all the world.
DAVID HUMEIf subjects must never resist, it follows that every prince, without any effort, policy, or violence, is at once rendered absolute and uncontrollable.
More David Hume Quotes
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All knowledge degenerates into probability.
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The Crusades – the most signal and most durable monument of human folly that has yet appeared in any age or nation.
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Men’s views of things are the result of their understanding alone. Their conduct is regulated by their understanding, their temper, and their passions.
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We should never know how to adjust means to ends, or to employ our natural powers in the production of any effect. There would be an end at once of all action, as well as of the chief part of speculation.
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The victory is not gained by the men at arms, who manage the pike and the sword; but by the trumpeters, drummers, and musicians of the army.
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Any pride or haughtiness, is displeasing to us, merely because it shocks our own pride, and leads us by sympathy into comparison, which causes the disagreeable passion of humility.
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Tis not unreasonable for me to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.
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I weigh the one miracle against the other and according to the superiority which I discover, I pronounce my decision.
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Epicurus’s old questions are still unanswered: Is he (God) willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? then whence evil?
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A wise man apportions his beliefs to the evidence.
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Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.
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How can we satisfy ourselves without going on in infinitum? And, after all, what satisfaction is there in that infinite progression?
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It is, therefore, a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.
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Revolutions of government cannot be effected by the mere force of argument and reasoning.
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Carelessness and in-attention alone can afford us any remedy. For this reason I rely entirely upon them.
DAVID HUME