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It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause
David Hume
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Hume critiques the notion of attributing human emotions to God, particularly the desire for recognition.

In this quote, David Hume argues that it is unreasonable to think of God as having human-like passions, especially the desire for approval or applause. He suggests that such a view reduces the divine to a lowly human trait, undermining the true nature of a higher power that should be beyond human whims and desires.

Themes

GodDivineHuman PassionsApplauseAbsurdityBelief

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophical discussion, one might use this quote to challenge the anthropomorphism of God.

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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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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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