devastated conventional belief

"God's power is infinite -- whatever he wills is executed. But neither man nor any other animal is happy, therefore he does not will their happiness. Epicurus's old questions are yet unanswered: is he both able and willing to prevent evil? Then whence cometh evil?"

- David Hume [1711-1776]

An earlier reference to Hume here. An earlier reference to Epicurus here.

most important philosopher ever to write in English

"And though a philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself throughout the whole society, and bestow a similar correctness on every art and calling."
- David Hume [1711-76], An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, paragraph 9, 1748.