more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
Truths which are pernicious to society, if any such there be, will yield to errors which are salutary and advantageous.
Gist of Idea
Society prefers helpful lies to harmful truth
Source
David Hume (Enquiry concerning Principles of Morals [1751], IX.II.228)
Book Ref
Hume,David: 'Enquiries Conc. Human Understanding, Morals', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1975], p.279
A Reaction
Hume probably meant religion. Two centuries later we have a greater appetite for uncomfortable truth.
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