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
liberty foolish
There are very few so foolish that they had not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.
science reality facts
Science is the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another.
fear men lasting
The original of all great and lasting societies consisted not in the mutual good will men had toward each other, but in the mutual fear they had of each other.
inspirational despair opinion
Appetite, with an opinion of attaining, is called hope; the same, without such opinion, despair.
wise wisdom witty
Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.
spring men law
All men, among themselves, are by nature equal. The inequality we now discern hath its spring from the civil law.
wise men fool
Words are the counters of wise men, and the money of fools.
world opinion
The world is governed by opinion.
fear religion leviathan
Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.
life nature men
The right of nature... is the liberty each man hath to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his own life.
mind atheism superstitions
Fear of power invisible, feigned by the mind or imagined from tales publicly allowed, is religion; not allowed, superstition.
war men survival
The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.
witty book men
If I read as many books as most men do, I would be as dull-witted as they are.
freedom law libertarian
Unnecessary laws are not good laws, but traps for money.