David Hume Quotes

But that which is useful is the better.

A thing is worth what it can do for you, not what you choose to pay for it.

If you can't eat it, can't sleep under it, can't wear it or make something from it, it's not worth anything.

Nothing can have value without being an object of utility.

Men value things in three ways: as useful, as pleasant or sources of pleasure, and as excellent, or as intrinsically admirable or honorable.

Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.

The meaning or value of a thing consists of what it affords.

Worst case scenario, nothing I do has any value or purpose, but if I can make someone laugh, I'm at least as useful as a piece of quiche would be.

The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards.

All things in their beeing are good for something.

What is simple is false and what is not is useless.

The most useful is the greatest.

To use is necessary. And if you can't be used, then you're useless.

Honour without profit is a ring on the finger.

Some are created for beauty, and some for use; and there are some which one can do without altogether.

All the good things of the world are no further good to us than as they are of use; and of all we may heap up we enjoy only as much as we can use, and no more.

Reason teaches us that what is good is good for something, and that what is good for nothing is not good at all.

I smil'd to my self at the sight of this money, O drug! said I aloud, what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no not the taking off of the ground, one of those knives is worth all this heap, I have no manner of use for thee, e'en remain where thou art, and go to the bottom as a creature whose life is not worth saving. However, upon second thoughts, I took it away.

What preys on my mind is simply this one question: what am I good for, could I not be of service or use in some way?

He wants worth who dares not praise a foe.

Nature would not appear so rich, the profusion so rich, if we knew a use for everything.

There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself

Nobody cares if you're an idiot, as long as you're a useful one.