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About this quote

What does it mean?
Miracle claims need evidence so strong that believing the testimony is false would be more miraculous than the event itself.
In plain terms
Do not believe in miracles unless the proof against lying is stronger than the miracle claim.
What can you take from it?
Require extraordinary evidence for extraordinary claims.

Where it applies

  • religious claims
  • historical reports
  • anecdotal evidence

Putting it to work

  • demand proof
  • weigh likelihood
  • doubt claims

Questions to consider

  • What proof do you demand?
  • When do you believe?

Another view

Some events lack sufficient evidence to prove.

More from David Hume

  1. In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence.…

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  2. When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either …

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  3. Though experience be our only guide in reasoning concerning matters of fact; it must be acknowledged, that this guide is not altogether infallible, but in some…

    Permalink to quote #22

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