User:Laurence Boyce/Hume's maxim

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The famous quote is from David Hume's essay Of Miracles from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, first published anonymously as Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding in 1748.

According to Richard Popkin, Hume first conceived his essay following a conversation with a Jesuit at La Flèche, in the course of which he was notified of some miracle that had allegedly taken place there. Hume gently explained his maxim, to which the startled Jesuit replied, "Sir, if you are right about this, then the same would hold for the miracles in the Bible."

To which Hume (might have) said, "Hmm, good point."

The plain consequence is (and it is a general maxim worthy of our attention) that no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavours to establish: and even in that case, there is a mutual destruction of arguments, and the superior only gives us an assurance suitable to that degree of force, which remains, after deducting the inferior. When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact he relates should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other, and according to the superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision, and always reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous, than the event, which he relates; then, and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion.