“In a word, human life is more governed by fortune than by reason; is to be regarded more as a dull pastime than as a serious occupation; and is more influenced by particular humour, than by general principles.”

— David Hume, Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary, Part I, Essay 18: The Sceptic

About David Hume

1711 – 1776

Scottish philosopher and historian.

“Nothing is more dangerous to reason than the flights of the imagination.”

“Morals excite passions, and produce or prevent actions. Reason of itself is utterly impotent in this particular.”

“Reason is wholly inactive, and can never be the source of so active a principle as conscience, or a sense of morals.”

“The young have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations.”

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”

“Do not try to live for ever. You will not succeed.”

“Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.”

“The consciousness of life is higher than life, the knowledge of the laws of happiness is higher than happiness.”

“Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.”