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I put for the general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.

Thomas Hobbes

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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
Restless
Perpetual
General
Mankind
Desire
Death
Power
Leviathan
Inclination

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The Pacts and Covenants, by which the parts of this Body Politique were at first made, set together, and united, resemble that Fiat, or the Let us make man, pronounced by God in the Creation.
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To speak impartially, both sayings are very true: that man to man is a kind of God and that man to man is an arrant wolf. The first is true, if we compare citizens amongst themselves and the second, if we compare cities.
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The passions of men are commonly more potent than their reason.
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A man cannot lay down the right of resisting them that assault him by force, to take away his life.
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If any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies.
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For there are very few so foolish who would not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.
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Man is distinguished not only by his reason, but also by this singular passion, from all other animals.
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And if a man consider the original of this great Ecclesiastical Dominion, he will easily perceive, that the Papacy , is no other than the Ghost of the deceased Romane Empire , sitting crowned upon the grave thereof: For so did the Papacy start up on a Sudden out of the Ruines of that Heathen Power.
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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.
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To say that God is an incorporeal substance, is to say in effect there is no God at all. What alleges he against it, but the School-divinity which I have already answered? Scripture he can bring none, because the word incorporeal is not found in Scripture.
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Leisure is the mother of philosophy and commonwealth, the mother of peace and leisure.
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Scientia potentia est, sed parva quia scientia egregia rara est, nec proinde apparens nisi paucissimis, et in paucis rebus. Scientiae enim ea natura est, ut esse intelligi non possit, nisi ab illis qui sunt scientia praediti.
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Nature itself cannot err
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The power of a man is his present means to obtain some future apparent good.
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Covenants without swords are but words.
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For all laws are general judgements, or sentences of the legislator as also every particular judgement is a law to him whose case is judged.
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This is that law of the Gospel whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them.
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The law is more easily understood by few than many words. For all words are subject to ambiguity, and therefore multiplication of words in the body of the law is multiplication of ambiguity. Besides, it seems to imply (by too much diligence) that whosoever can evade the words is without the compass of the law.
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Ambition, and Covetousnesse are Passions that are perpetually incumbent, and pressing.
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And as in other things, so in men, not the seller, but the buyer determines the Price.
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