The 9-foot tall statue that resides in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh is a touchstone for students and children seeking knowledge or philosophical enlightenment over the years, the Scotsman reported.

Sandy Stoddart, the sculptor who created the piece, said Hume would likely not condone the superstitious practice. He said the practice, however, is likely to last well into the future.

"The great thing is that it's so ironic that David Hume, who is the patron saint of all the atheists, should now have his toe adored," Stoddart said.

"We are seeing the birth of an ancient tradition with this toe rubbing," he added. "What we are seeing is the future -- they will be doing this 100 years from now."

Hume's statue may now be added to a short list of worldwide statues used for superstition -- such as George Mason University's statue to its namesake and a London sculpture of Winston Churchill -- the newspaper said.