Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of things, than any whining Christian ever dyed with pretended resignation to the will of God.

Adam Smith’s quote offers a reflection on the contrast between David Hume, a philosopher, and the way Christians often express their resignation in the face of death. Smith praises Hume for approaching his impending death with cheerfulness and good humor, viewing his situation with an acceptance that seems more genuine than the pretended resignation he perceives in others. In this context, Smith suggests that Hume’s acceptance of death is more authentic and rooted in a rational perspective, compared to the often overly sentimental or self-righteous manner in which some Christians face the same fate.

The origin of this perspective likely arises from Smith’s admiration for Hume’s philosophical outlook on life and death. Both Smith and Hume were part of the Scottish Enlightenment, a period of intellectual growth that emphasized reason and individualism. Hume, a skeptic and empiricist, did not adhere to traditional religious views, instead taking a more rational approach to life's challenges, including the inevitability of death. Smith, who was a close friend and admirer of Hume, sees his approach to dying as a model of stoic acceptance rather than religious resignation.

In this quote, Smith critiques what he views as a hypocritical or inauthentic form of resignation often exhibited by some Christians, where the acceptance of death is framed in terms of obedience to the will of God, sometimes with an element of false piety. Smith seems to suggest that Hume’s acceptance, grounded in reason and pragmatism, carries more weight and dignity than the theatrical or pretended humility that some religious individuals display in their final moments.

Ultimately, Adam Smith’s quote champions a more authentic, reasoned approach to death and resignation—one that is free from pretension. By contrasting Hume’s genuine composure with the religious rituals surrounding death, Smith advocates for the value of rational thought and true resignation in facing life’s inevitable end.