# Quote — David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature

> 'Tis only from the selfishness and confin'd generosity of men, along with the scanty provision nature has made for his wants, that justice derives its origin.

- Author: [David Hume](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume.md)
- Book: [A Treatise of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/David_Hume#Book_3:_Of_morals) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature/tis-only-from

## More from this book

> We speak not strictly and philosophically when we talk of the combat of passion and of reason. Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature/we-speak-not.md)

> The sense of justice and injustice is not deriv'd from nature, but arises artificially... from education, and human conventions.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature/the-sense-of-justice.md)

> I cannot forbear adding to these reasonings an observation, which may, perhaps, be found of some importance. In every system of morality, which I have hitherto met with, I have always remarked, that the author proceeds for some time in the ordinary way of reasoning, and establishes the being of a God, or makes observations concerning human affairs; when of a sudden I am surprized to find, that instead of the usual copulations of propositions, is, and is not, I meet with no proposition that is not connected with an ought, or an ought not. This change is imperceptible; but is, however, of the last consequence. For as this ought, or ought not, expresses some new relation or affirmation, it is necessary that it should be observed and explained; and at the same time that a reason should be given, for what seems altogether inconceivable, how this new relation can be a deduction from others, which are entirely different from it. But as authors do not commonly use this precaution, I shall presume to recommend it to the readers; and am persuaded, that this small attention would subvert all the vulgar systems of morality, and let us see, that the distinction of vice and virtue is not founded merely on the relations of objects, nor is perceived by reason.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature/i-cannot-forbear.md)