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If subjects must never resist, it follows that every prince, without any effort, policy, or violence, is at once rendered absolute and uncontrollable.

David Hume

It is possible for the same thing both to be and not to be.
DAVID HUME

Deep Philosophy Possible Thing
We make allowance for a certain degree of selfishness in men; because we know it to be inseparable from human nature, and inherent in our frame and constitution. By this reflexion we correct those sentiments of blame, which so naturally arise upon any opposition.
DAVID HUME

Allow Blame Human Man Philosophy Selfish Separate
All knowledge degenerates into probability.
DAVID HUME

Knowledge One Liner
What a peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call ‘thought’
DAVID HUME

Brain Philosophy Privilege Thought
Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.
DAVID HUME

Passion Reason Slave
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.
DAVID HUME

Obey Passion Reason Serve Slave
I may venture to affirm of the rest of mankind, that they are nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions, which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity, and are in a perpetual flux and movement.
DAVID HUME

Different Man Perspective Success
The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.
DAVID HUME

Greedy Philosophy Wonder
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.
DAVID HUME

Action End Philosophy Power Product
The science of man is the only solid foundation for the other sciences.
DAVID HUME

Foundation Man Science
But the greatest part of mankind float between vice and virtue.
DAVID HUME

Float Great Man Virtue
When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.
DAVID HUME

Alone Arrogant Man Mistake Passion Secure
How can we satisfy ourselves without going on in infinitum? And, after all, what satisfaction is there in that infinite progression?
DAVID HUME

Infinite Philosophy Satisfy
If subjects must never resist, it follows that every prince, without any effort, policy, or violence, is at once rendered absolute and uncontrollable.
DAVID HUME

Effort Follow Philosophy Resist Violence
Liberty of any kind is never lost all at once
DAVID HUME

Freedom Liberty Lost One Liner
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

Alone Man Passion Philosophy Result Temper Thing Understand
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 HUME

Affair Day Decent Expose Eyes Man Public Truth World
It is, therefore, a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.
DAVID HUME

Man Philosophy Politics
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

Deep Establish False Kind Miracle Philosophy Sufficient
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.
DAVID HUME

Gain Man Music Victory War
Tis not unreasonable for me to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.
DAVID HUME

Destruction Fingers Reason World
The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian.
DAVID HUME

Affection Feeling Heart Passion Philosophy
The fact that different cultures have different practices no more refutes [moral] objectivism than the fact that water flows in different directions in different places refutes the law of gravity.
DAVID HUME

Culture Different Direction Fact Law Place Water
There is nothing to be learnt from a Professor, which is not to be met with in Books.
DAVID HUME

Book Deep Learning Philosophy
A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.
DAVID HUME

Care Design Purpose Stupidity Think
But the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.
DAVID HUME

Animal Deep Great Important Life Man Philosophy Universe
To be a philosophical Sceptic is the first and most essential step towards being a sound, believing Christian.
DAVID HUME

Believe History Philosophy Religious

If subjects must never resist, it follows that every prince, without any effort, policy, or violence, is at once rendered absolute and uncontrollable.

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If subjects must never resist, it follows that every prince, without any effort, policy, or violence, is at once rendered absolute and uncontrollable.

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