Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy. His 1651 book Leviathan established social contract theory, the foundation of most later Western political philosophy...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth5 April 1588
fear mind desire
There is no such thing as perpetual tranquillity of mind while we live here; because life itself is but motion, and can never be without desire, nor without fear, no more than without sense.
power long leviathan
The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.
understanding speech conception
Understanding is nothing else than conception caused by speech.
liberty littles fruit
What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he that, living idly, getteth little and spendeth all he gets, seeing the one hath no more protection from the commonwealth than the other?
wise wisdom writing
A wise man should so write (though in words understood by all men) that wise men only should be able to commend him.
philosophical men welcome
Such truth, as opposeth no man's profit, nor pleasure, is to all men welcome.
law judgement cases
For all laws are general judgements, or sentences of the legislator; as also every particular judgement is a law to him whose case is judged.
spy desire way
Thoughts are to the Desires as Scouts and Spies, to range abroad, and find the way to the things Desired.
firsts causes want
The first cause of Absurd conclusions I ascribe to the want of Method.
knowledge
Scientia potentia est, sed parva; quia scientia egregia rara est, nec proinde apparens nisi paucissimis, et in paucis rebus. Scientiae enim ea natura est, ut esse intelligi non possit, nisi ab illis qui sunt scientia praediti.
liberty deceiving states
Subjects have no greater liberty in a popular than in a monarchial state. That which deceives them is the equal participation of command.
desire progress way
Felicity is a continual progress of the desire from one object to another, the attaining of the former being still but the way to the latter.
party blow judging
And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.
dream thinking waking
Because waking I often observe the absurdity of dreams, but never dream of the absurdities of my waking thoughts, I am well satisfied that being awake, I know I dream not; though when I dream, I think myself awake.