It is said that Hume the skeptic was in early life a conscientious believer in the word of God. Being connected with a debating society, he was appointed to present the arguments in favor of infidelity. He studied with earnestness and perseverance, and his keen and active mind became imbued with the sophistry of skepticism. Ere long he came to believe its delusive teachings, and his whole after-life bore the dark impress of infidelity.

Det er blevet sagt at skeptikeren Hume i sit første liv troede meget samvittighedsfuldt på Guds ord. I en diskussion om samfundet, blev han henvist til at komme med argumenter for vantro. Han studere i alvor og udholdende, og hans skarpe og aktive sind blev gennemsyret af skepticismens sofisteri. Snart kom han til at tro på dens bedrageriske lære, og hele hans eftermæle bar et mørkt indtryk af vantro.