Here am I who have written on all sorts of subjects calculated to excite hostility, moral, political, and religious, and yet I have no enemies - except, indeed, all the Whigs, all the Tories, and all the Christians.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hume critiques the universal hostility of organized factions, implying that true rational inquiry alienates all established groups.
- In plain terms
- He notes that challenging dogma leads to opposition from every side.
- What can you take from it?
- Questioning deeply often isolates you from conventional groups.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Which groups feel hostile to independent thought?
- Is alienation a sign of integrity?
Another view
It exaggerates the isolation of independent thinkers.
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