Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Origin of the Species' and 'Enquiry concerning Principles of Morals'

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2 ideas

24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State

3921	The safety of the people is the supreme law [Hume]
	Full Idea: The safety of the people is the supreme law.
	From: David Hume (Enquiry concerning Principles of Morals [1751], III.II.157)
	A reaction: No political system ever seems able to disagree with this.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / a. Government

3927	Society prefers helpful lies to harmful truth [Hume]
	Full Idea: Truths which are pernicious to society, if any such there be, will yield to errors which are salutary and advantageous.
	From: David Hume (Enquiry concerning Principles of Morals [1751], IX.II.228)
	A reaction: Hume probably meant religion. Two centuries later we have a greater appetite for uncomfortable truth.