Q0394
“Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.” — David Hume (A Treatise of Human Nature I.4.7)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: A Treatise of Human Nature I.4.7. Theme: humanity.
English
Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to A Treatise of Human Nature I.4.7 and files it under Scottish Enlightenment. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About David Hume
David Hume (1711–1776) was the Scottish Enlightenment’s greatest empiricist and skeptical naturalist, author of the Treatise of Human Nature and later Enquiries. Largely denied academic chairs over religious suspicion, he served as librarian and diplomat and wrote a bestselling History of England.
Interpretation
Hume ends the first book of the Treatise on this note, after his arguments have led him to conclusions he finds unlivable in practice. The line is not a retraction but a description: philosophical reasoning and ordinary life operate on different principles, and he finds that the second reasserts itself regardless. His honesty about the gap is the point — he does not pretend the arguments resolve it. The sentence is usually quoted as common sense; in context it is an admission of a problem.
Why it matters
It names a real condition: you can hold conclusions that your daily conduct does not track. Noticing the gap is more useful than pretending either side is wrong.
Concepts in this quote
- Humanity
- Humanity names both the species and the moral quality of being humane—bridging anthropology and ethics.
- Order
- Order names cosmos, ritual, law, and the patterned stability that makes shared life possible—or oppressive.
How to cite this quotation
APA: David Hume. (n.d.). Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0394
MLA: David Hume. “Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy,….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0394.
Chicago: David Hume. “Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy,….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0394.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy,…”?
The passage is attributed to David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature I.4.7. The archive attributes this English wording to A Treatise of Human Nature I.4.7 and files it under Scottish Enlightenment. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does David Hume mean by humanity?
Philosophers ask what makes humans distinctive, what we owe one another as humans, and how “humanity” can include or exclude. This passage enters that discussion through humanity, order.