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
leviathan opinion orthodox
They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that dislike it, heresy; and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion.
authority-and-power desire leviathan
I put for the general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.
leviathan empires sitting
The Papacy is not other than the Ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.
law leviathan common
Where there is no common power, there is no law
philosophical dark leviathan
I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.
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.
fear religion leviathan
Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.
too-late leviathan hell
Hell is Truth Seen Too Late.
carnal continued curiosity delight desire generation knowledge lust perseverance short
Desire to know why, and how - curiosity, which is a lust of the mind, that a perseverance of delight in the continued and indefatigable generation of knowledge - exceedeth the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.
carnal continued curiosity delight desire generation knowledge lust perseverance short
Desire to know why, and how -- curiosity, which is a lust of the mind, that a perseverance of delight in the continued and indefatigable generation of knowledge -- exceedeth the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.
danger fear life short violent worst
No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short
apparent either future obtain original power present
The power of a man, to take it universally, is his present means, to obtain some future apparent good; and is either original or instrumental.
english-philosopher money reckon wise words
Words are wise men's counters, they do but reckon with them, but they are the money of fools.
life philosophical men
The privilege of absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man only.