quote · Legacy record
I am apt, however, to entertain a Suspicion, that the World is still too young to fix any general stable Truths in Politics, which will remain true to the latest Posterity. We have not as yet had Experience of above three thousand Years; so that not only the Art of Reasoning is still defective in this Science, as well as in all others, but we even want sufficient Materials, upon which we can reason. 'Tis not sufficiently known, what Degrees of Refinement, either in Virtue or Vice, human Nature is susceptible of; nor what may be expected of Mankind from any great Revolution in their Education, Customs, or Principles.
I am apt, however, to entertain a Suspicion, that the World is still too young to fix any general stable Truths in Politics, which will remain true to the latest Posterity. We have not as yet had Experience of above three thousand Years; so that not only the Art of Reasoning is still defective in this Science, as well as in all others, but we even want sufficient Materials, upon which we can reason. 'Tis not sufficiently known, what Degrees of Refinement, either in Virtue or Vice, human Nature is susceptible of; nor what may be expected of Mankind from any great Revolution in their Education, Customs, or Principles.
Approximate author period: c. 1743 AD · early modern
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- Author or tradition
- David Hume
Attribution: attributed - Country attributed
- Not established
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- Approximate author period: c. 1743 AD · early modern
Approximate author-period anchor from life dates 1711 to 1776; Wikidata Q37160, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37160 (accessed 2026-10-08). Not a quotation composition date.
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Supplied reference C; CSV row 84907; supplied attribution, independently unverified
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