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
The difference between a man who is led by opinion or emotion and one who is led by reason. The former, whether he will or not, performs things of which he is entirely ignorant; the latter is subordinate to no one, and only does those things which he knows to be of primary importance in his life, and which on that account he desires the most; and therefore I call the former a slave, but the latter free.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote distinguishes between those guided by emotions and opinions and those guided by reason.
David Hume contrasts two types of individuals: those who act based on fleeting emotions or societal opinions, which leads them to unknowingly engage in actions that lack true significance, and those who are driven by reason, understanding their motivations and desires, thus achieving true freedom. In this light, freedom is defined not merely as the absence of restraint, but as the ability to consciously pursue what is genuinely important in life.
Themes
ReasonEmotionFreedomIgnoranceImportance
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on personal autonomy, this quote highlights the importance of reason over opinion.
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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