“At present they [philosophers] seem to be in a very lamentable condition, and such as the poets have given us but a faint notion of in their descriptions of the punishment of Sisyphus and Tantalus. For what can be imagin'd more tormenting, than to seek with eagerness, what for ever flies us; and seek for it in a place, where 'tis impossible it can ever exist?”
Part 4, Section 3
A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-40), Book 1: Of the understanding
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David Hume 138
Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian 1711–1776Related quotes

Section V, p. 13
Natural Law; or The Science of Justice (1882), Chapter II. The Science of Justice (Continued)

Salon.com column http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/waldman/2005/05/23/prison/index1.html
On Republican opposition to a bill legislating dental care for pregnant prisoners.
Introduction for his unfinished novel, Whistle (1978) the third part of his war trilogy (which was completed by Willie Morris); quoted in TIME magazine (13 March 1978) http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919437,00.html

“Men of today seem to feel more acutely than ever the paradox of their condition.”
Part I : Ambiguity and Freedom
The Ethics of Ambiguity (1947)
Context: Men of today seem to feel more acutely than ever the paradox of their condition. They know themselves to be the supreme end to which all action should be subordinated, but the exigencies of action force them to treat one another as instruments or obstacles, as means. The more widespread their mastery of the world, the more they find themselves crushed by uncontrollable forces.

“Humanity will ever seek but never attain perfection. Let us at least survive and go on trying.”
The Religion of the Machine Age (1983)
Foreword p. 9
The Sword or the Cross, Which Should be the Weapon of the Christian Militant? (1921)