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
sight covenant add
The oath adds nothing to the obligation. For a covenant, if lawful, binds in the sight of God, without the oath, as much as with it; if unlawful, bindeth not at all, though it be confirmed with an oath.
writing preparation darts
As soon as a thought darts, I write it down.
covenant weapons
Covenants without swords are but words.
science men definitions
And therefore in geometry (which is the only science that it hath pleased God hitherto to bestow on mankind), men begin at settling the significations of their words; which settling of significations, they call definitions, and place them in the beginning of their reckoning.
men train-of-thought next
By consequence, or train of thoughts, I understand that succession of one thought to another which is called, to distinguish it from discourse in words, mental discourse. When a man thinketh on anything whatsoever, his next thought after is not altogether so casual as it seems to be. Not every thought to every thought succeeds indifferently.
men design sticks
It is many times with a fraudulent Design that men stick their corrupt Doctrine with the Cloves of other mens Wit.
animal body wagons
As a draft-animal is yoked in a wagon, even so the spirit is yoked in this body
war preserves
For it can never be that war shall preserve life, and peace destroy it.
wise men doctors
Words are wise men's counters, they do but reckon by them: but they are the money of fools, that value them by the authority of an Aristotle, a Cicero, or a Thomas, or any other doctor whatsoever, if but a man.
men liberty able
A free man is he that, in those things which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to do what he has a will to.
darkness leap last-words
It's my turn, to take a leap into the darkness!
men may judgment
A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.
equality men would-be
For if all things were equally in all men, nothing would be prized.
dark leap last-words
A great leap in the dark