David Hume Quotes

Vice is a dreary business. And virtue is not a lot of fun, either.

The end of all moral speculations is to teach us our duty; and, by proper representations of the deformity of vice and beauty of virtue, beget correspondent habits, and engage us to avoid the one, and embrace the other.

Base thy life on principle, not on rules.

I myself have constantly refused to print anything that might countenance vice or promote immorality, though … I might have gotten much money.

Hypocrisy is an homage that vice renders to virtue.

The vices and the virtues are written in a language the world cannot construe; it reads them in a vile translation, and the translators are Failure and Success.

Pride is both a virtue and a vice.

The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.

Content thyself to be obscurely good. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, the post of honoris a private station.

Vices and virtues are of a strange nature, for the more we have, the fewer we think we have.

Curb your talent lest it speed where virtue does not guide.

Vice is man's nature: virtue is a habit--or a mask.

I try to do the right thing.

Integrity is what you do when no one is watching; its doing the right thing all the time, even when it may work to your disadvantage.

You know, there's a right and wrong way to do everything.

Never support two weaknesses at the same time. It's your combination sinners - your lecherous liars and your miserly drunkards - who dishonor the vices and bring them into bad repute.

Virtue needs a director and guide. Vice can be learned even without a teacher.

The real nature of an ethic is that it does not become an ethic unless and until it goes into action.

If you are doing something for reward or punishment, you do not have morality.

The absence of vices adds so little to the sum of one's virtues.

Purpose ... is held to be most closely connected with virtue, and to be a better token of our character than are even our acts.

Ethics, decency and morality are the real soldiers

Self-love, as it happens to be well or ill conducted, constitutes virtue and vice.

What is a good person? One who achieves tranquillity by having formed the habit of asking on every occasion, "what is the right thing to do now?"