What David Hume thinks about government
Scottish philosopher of the Scottish Enlightenment (1711 to 1776), born in Edinburgh; author of A Treatise of Human Nature, the Enquiries, and a History of England.
David Hume did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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5 dated positions, c. 1741–1776, in their own words. Our reading of what David Hume has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Our readingLiberty of the press may be claimed as a common right of mankind in almost every government
Their wordsBut I would fain go a step further, and assert, that such a liberty is attended with so few inconveniences, that it may be claimed as the common right of mankind, and ought to be indulged them almost in every government except the ecclesiastical, to which, indeed, it would be fatal.
↗Essays, Moral and Political (selection; 1741-1776)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Our readingThe force of laws and forms of government allows conclusions almost as certain as mathematics
Their wordsSo great is the force of laws, and of particular forms of government, and so little dependence have they on the humours and tempers of men, that consequences almost as general and certain may sometimes be deduced from them, as any which the mathematical sciences afford us.
↗Essays, Moral and Political (selection; 1741-1776)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsIt is, therefore, on opinion only that government is founded; and this maxim extends to the most despotic and most military governments, as well as to the most free and most popular.
↗Essays, Moral and Political (selection; 1741-1776)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsWe are, therefore, to look upon all the vast apparatus of our government, as having ultimately no other object or purpose but the distribution of justice, or, in other words, the support of the twelve judges.
↗Essays, Moral and Political (selection; 1741-1776)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Our readingCommerce tends to decay under absolute government because it is less honourable, not less secure
Their wordsCommerce, therefore, in my opinion, is apt to decay in absolute governments, not because it is there less secure, but because it is less honourable.
↗Essays, Moral and Political (selection; 1741-1776)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book