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
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.
mother philosophy philosophical
Leisure is the Mother of Philosophy.
law justice authority
It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law
law firsts fundamentals
The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it.
ignorance men law
But if one Subject giveth Counsell to another, to do anything contrary to the Lawes, whether that Counsell proceed from evil intention, or from ignorance onely, it is punishable by the Common-wealth; because igorance of the Law, is no good excuse, where every man is bound to take notice of the Lawes to which he is subject.
life-lesson philosophical lust
Curiosity is the lust of the mind.
government people democracy
A democracy is no more than an aristocracy of orators. The people are so readily moved by demagogues that control must be exercised by the government over speech and press.