Thomas Hobbes:

The greatest of human powers, is that which is compounded of the powers of most men, united by consent, in one person, natural, or civil, that has the use of all their powers depending on his will; such as is the power of a Common-wealth: or depending on the wills of each particular; such as is the power of a faction, or of divers factions leagued.

— Thomas Hobbes Early Modern

Leviathan, social contract

Context

Leviathan, Part I, Chapter X

Date / Period

1651

Source

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm#link2H_4_0004

Verification

Unverifiable

Explanation

Found in 1 providers: grok

Method

Cross Reference

Sources Checked

1 source

More from Thomas Hobbes

"For what is there in the world, that is not obnoxious to the change of time, and the violence of men?"

Controversial

"For every man, that is not an idiot, knoweth that there is a God; yet few there be that think there is but one, or that he is eternal, or incomprehensible, or that he governs the world; but they imagi…"

Strange & Unusual

"Riches, knowledge, and honour are but several sorts of power."

Humorous

"And therefore, if a man consider that argument, which is drawn from the common consent of all nations, to prove there is a God; he must not think it an argument of God's existence, but of the existenc…"

Strange & Unusual

"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."

Controversial

View all sayings from Thomas Hobbes