Your corn is ripe today; mine will be so tomorrow. 'Tis profitable for us both, that I should labour with you today, and that you should aid me tomorrow.
David HumeRead
The most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sensory experiences hold more significance than even the most vibrant thoughts.
David Hume emphasizes that actual sensory experiences, even if they are mundane, have more impact and truth than our most vivid and lively thoughts or ideas. This suggests the importance of real-life experiences over abstract thinking and highlights the limitations of intellectual reasoning when disconnected from sensory reality.
Themes
ThoughtSensationExperiencePhilosophyPerception
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a philosophy class to discuss the nature of knowledge.
More from David Hume
All quotes βEloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding.
David HumeRead
All that belongs to human understanding, in this deep ignorance and obscurity, is to be sceptical, or at least cautious, and not to admit of any hypothesis whatever, much less of any which is supported by no appearance of probability.
David HumeRead
The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness
David HumeRead
There is a very remarkable inclination in human nature to bestow on external objects the same emotions which it observes in itself, and to find every where those ideas which are most present to it.
David HumeRead
To have recourse to the veracity of the supreme Being, in order to prove the veracity of our senses, is surely making a very unexpected circuit.
David HumeRead
Similar quotes
To combat death you don't need much of a life, just one that isn't yet finished.
Herta MullerRead
It is necessary for all of us to awaken in ourselves this spirit of cooperation, for then it will not be a mere plan or agreement which causes us to work together, but an extraordinary feeling of togetherness, the sense of joy in being and doing together without any thought of reward or punishment.
Jiddu KrishnamurtiRead
Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.
Karl KrausRead
The sinner is not the one who uses a lot of grace... The saint burns grace like a 747 burns fuel on take off.
Dallas WillardRead
Men owe us what we imagine they will give us. We must forgive them this debt.
Simone WeilRead
The man or nation of high culture may acknowledge to great lengths the restraints imposed by conventions and honour, but beyond a certain point, primitive will or desire cannot be curbed.
H. P. LovecraftRead