Thomas Hobbes
Leviathan, social contract
Sayings by Thomas Hobbes
The greatest good, is the preservation of life.
The power of the sovereign is indivisible; and cannot be shared between different bodies or persons.
For 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.
The end of obedience is protection.
Science is the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another.
For seeing that the whole life of man is but a motion, and can never be without desire, nor without fear, no more than without sense.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
The laws of nature are not properly laws, but conclusions or theorems concerning what conduceth to the conservation and defence of themselves.
For what is there in the world, that is not obnoxious to the change of time, and the violence of men?
For the laws of nature are not properly laws, but certain dictates of reason.
The greatest good is the greatest evil: or rather, the greatest evil is that which is most destructive of life.
And from this war of every man against every man, this also is consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place.
The will of man is not free, but is determined by the strongest motive.
A free man is he that... is not hindered to do what he has the will to do.
The power of the mighty hath no foundation but in the opinion and belief of the people.
Hell is truth seen too late.
Fear and I were born twins.
The flesh endures the storms of the present alone; the mind, those of the past and future as well as the present.
For by Art is created that great LEVIATHAN called a COMMON-WEALTH, or STATE, (in Latin CIVITAS) which is but an Artificial Man; though of greater stature and strength than the Naturall, for whose protection and defence it was intended.
Words are the counters of wise men, and the money of fools.