David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779), part 10
• Description: The words of the character, Demea.
• Description: The words of the character, Demea.
“
All the goods of life united would not make a very happy man; but all the ills united would make a wretch indeed; and any one of them almost (and who can be free from every one?) nay often the absence of one good (and who can possess all?) is sufficient to render life ineligible.
— David Hume on Philosophical pessimism
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "All the goods of life united would not make a very happy man; but all the ills united would make a wretch indeed; and any one of them almost (and who can be free from every one?) nay often the absence of one good (and who can possess all?) is sufficient to render life ineligible." in the context of "David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779), part 10
• Description: The words of the character, Demea." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Philosophical pessimism" (H)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About David Hume
David Hume (7 May 1711, N.S. April 26, O.S. – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist and essayist.
About David Hume
David Hume (7 May 1711, N.S. April 26, O.S. – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist and essayist.
View all quotes →