Quote

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.

Thomas Hobbes

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Thomas Hobbes
Age: 91 †
Born: 1588
Born: April 5
Died: 1679
Died: December 4
Economist
Historian
Mathematician
Philosopher
Political Scientist
Politician
Translator
Westport
Wiltshire
Hobbes
Thomas Hobbsted
Thomas Hobbes of Malflutry
Use
Nature
Power
Right
Men
Leviathan
Life
Preservation
Hath
Liberty

More quotes by Thomas Hobbes

Image
From the same it proceedeth,that men gives different names, to one and the same thing, from the difference of their own passions: As they that approve a private opinion, call it Opinion but they that mislike it, Haeresie: and yet haeresie signifies no more than private opinion but has only agreater tincture of choler
Thomas Hobbes
Image
The science which teacheth arts and handicrafts is merely science for the gaining of a living but the science which teacheth deliverance from worldly existence, is not that the true science?
Thomas Hobbes
Image
So easy are men to be drawn to believe any thing, from such men as have gotten credit with them and can with gentleness and dexterity take hold of their fear and ignorance.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
A Covenant not to defend my selfe from force, by force, is always voyd.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
When two, or more men, know of one and the same fact, they are said to be CONSCIOUS of it one to another which is as much as to know it together.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Ambition, and Covetousnesse are Passions that are perpetually incumbent, and pressing.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Prudence is but experience, which equal time equally bestows on all men in those things they equally apply themselves unto.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
For it is with the mysteries of our religion, as with wholesome pills for the sick, which swallowed whole, have the virtue to cure but chewed, are for the most part cast up again without effect.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Unnecessary laws are not good laws, but traps for money.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself
Thomas Hobbes
Image
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.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
A Covenant not to defend myself from force, by force, is always void. For... no man can transfer or lay down his Right to save himself from Death.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Wisdom, properly so called, is nothing else but this: the perfect knowledge of the truth in all matters whatsoever.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
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.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
If I read as many books as most men do, I would be as dull-witted as they are.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Every man may think his own cause just till it be heard and judged.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Leisure is the mother of philosophy and commonwealth, the mother of peace and leisure.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
The end of knowledge is power ... the scope of all speculation is the performing of some action or thing to be done.
Thomas Hobbes