休莫是英国的一个天才。他当年年轻英俊，博学多才，曾当过几个要人的秘书，不
仅具有哲学的才能，而且在文学，历史等方面都多有著述，真是个出类拔萃的人。
记得当年我在的哲学系主任最喜欢的休莫的名言是( In the closing line of the
AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING he urges us to ask of any book)：
“Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity of number?
No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact
and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing
but sophistry and illusion.”当他在课堂上读出这一段时，其摇头晃脑得意之情，
溢于言表，我至今还记忆犹新。
