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
But would we know, whether the pretended prophet had really attained a just sentiment of morals? Let us attend to his narration; and we shall soon find, that he bestows praise on such instances of treachery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, bigotry, as are utterly incompatible with civilized society. No steady rule of right seems there to be attended to; and every action is blamed or praised, so far only as it is beneficial or hurtful to the true believers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions the moral judgment of a supposed prophet, suggesting that their values are distorted and inconsistent with a civilized society.
David Hume critiques the moral framework presented by a supposed prophet, indicating that their praise for immoral actions such as treachery and cruelty reveals a deep inconsistency in their ethical standards. He emphasizes that morality should be based on principles that uphold civilized society, rather than subjective benefits to particular groups, suggesting that true moral judgment cannot be founded on self-interest or bias.
Themes
MoralityEthicsSocietyJusticePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on moral standards, this quote can be used to highlight the dangers of subjective ethics.
More from David Hume
All quotes →Eloquence, 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.
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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.
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The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness
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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.
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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.
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