Hume, David

"The great advantage of the new philosophy is that it has enlarged the bounds of thought and action."

"There is nothing so inconsistent with our conduct and principles as the practice of history."

"Books are at the beginning and end of all things."

"To a creative mind, every place, every person, and every circumstance has interest."

"Truth springs from argument amongst friends."

"All his zeal and industry seem rather to increase and augment his anxiety."

"There is a certain experience and liberty in the pursuit of knowledge."

"The most singular victory we can achieve is over our prejudices."

"Vanity is so closely allied with all great talents, that it may be thought inseparable."

"It is more difficult to acquire an absolute power over our affections than to conquer kingdoms."

"The uncertainty in our judgements concerning moral sentiments makes them more valuable than mathematical truths."

"When we are absent from those we love, we ought to redouble our care in all other duties."

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and imprisonment."

"I am sorry I cannot wish you success in an application to the throne, on the ground of political principles."

"The heart of man is made to reconcile contradictions."

"We pretend not to have called any of these judgements into question."

"There is a moral sentiment or taste, which all mankind possess."

"No passion is, strictly speaking, either morally good or morally bad."

"Ambition is a powerful passion, though in some instances it has been the occasion of great disorder."

"The mistakes of this kind are very common."

"Eloquence is dependent on the passion and genius of the speaker."

"I have a notion that upon the whole, I have less reason to complain of Scotsmen than Englishmen."

"There is a passion for hunting something deeply implanted in human nature."

"All moral rules may be opposed to the natural instinct of benevolence."

"Some species of pleasure, though pure, yet are so weak and languishing, that they are scarce worth the name."

"I thought I had seen the end of all controversies in this matter."

"The corruption of the best is the worst in every department of life."

"Good company is the most easie and safe remedy for all our distempers."

"It is the sentiment of a Scotsman to be partial to his own country."

"The vulgar are still guided by false opinion."