Full Idea
We cannot, in any propriety of speech, say that an object is the same with itself, unless we mean that the object existent at one time is the same with itself at another time.
Gist of Idea
Saying an object is the same with itself is only meaningful over a period of time
Source
David Hume (Treatise of Human Nature [1739], I.IV.2)
Book Reference
Hume,David: 'A Treatise of Human Nature', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1978], p.201
A Reaction
This seems correct, but the strict language of identity is superfluous when identifying stolen goods. 'This is my watch', not 'this watch is identical with my watch'.
Related Idea
Idea 21289 'An object is the same with itself' is meaningless; it expresses unity, not identity [Hume]