What we call a mind is nothing but a heap or collection of different perceptions, united together by certain relations and supposed, though falsely, to be endowed with a perfect simplicity and identity.
The rules of morality are not the conclusion of our reason.
That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise.
A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion.
It is with books as with women, where a certain plainness of manner and of dress is more engaging than that glare of paint and airs and apparel which may dazzle the eye, but reaches not the affections.
Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients: action, pleasure and indolence.
It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause; for this may be done by one great or wise action in an age. But to escape censure a man must pass his whole life without saying or doing one ill or foolish thing.
The Crusades – the most signal and most durable monument of human folly that has yet appeared in any age or nation.
The consequence of a very free commerce between the sexes, and of their living much together, will often terminate in intrigues and gallantry.
Apart from the representational content of an idea there is another component: its force and vivacity, its impetus.
Kitsch is: a species of beauty, which, as it is florid and superficial, pleases at first; but soon palls upon the taste, and is rejected with disdain, at least rated at much lower value.
There is nothing, in itself, valuable or despicable, desirable or hateful, beautiful or deformed; but that these attributes arise from the particular constitution and fabric of human sentiment and affection.
To philosopher and historian the madness and imbecile wickedness of mankind ought to appear ordinary events.
Truth is disputable, not human taste.
But I would still reply, that the knavery and folly of men are such common phenomena, that I should rather believe the most extraordinary events to arise from their concurrence, than admit of so signal a violation of the laws of nature.
Nothing endears so much a friend as sorrow for his death. The pleasure of his company has not so powerful an influence.
The more instances we examine, and the more care we employ, the more assurance shall we acquire, that the enumeration, which we form from the whole, is complete and entire.
The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.
The bigotry of theologians is a malady which seems almost incurable.
Heroism, or military glory, is much admired by the generality of mankind. They consider it as the most sublime kind of merit. Menof cool reflection are not so sanguine in their praises of it.