Quote

The praise of ancient authors proceeds not from the reverence of the dead, but from the competition and mutual envy of the living.

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
Dead
Proceeds
Living
Authors
Reverence
Mutual
Envy
Competition
Ancient
Praise

More quotes by Thomas Hobbes

Image
They that are discontented under monarchy, call it tyranny and they that are displeased with aristocracy, call it oligarchy: so also, they which find themselves grieved under a democracy, call it anarchy, which signifies the want of government and yet I think no man believes, that want of government, is any new kind of government.
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
Thoughts are to the Desires as Scouts and Spies, to range abroad, and find the way to the things Desired.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
It is many times with a fraudulent Design that men stick their corrupt Doctrine with the Cloves of other mens Wit.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
It's my turn, to take a leap into the darkness!
Thomas Hobbes
Image
In a Democracy, look how many Demagogs that is how many powerful Orators there are with the people.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
For naturall Bloud is in like manner made of the fruits of the Earth and circulating, nourisheth by the way, every Member of the Body of Man.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
To this war of every man against every man, this also in consequent that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the cardinal virtues.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he that, living idly, getteth little and spendeth all he gets, seeing the one hath no more protection from the commonwealth than the other?
Thomas Hobbes
Image
This is that law of the Gospel whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
For there are very few so foolish who would not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.
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
As, in Sense, that which is really within us, is (as I have said before) only Motion, caused by the action of external objects, but in appearance to the Sight, Light and Color to the Ear, Sound to the Nostril, Odor, &c.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Understanding is by the flame of the passions never enlightened, but dazzled.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
No Discourse whatsoever, can End in absolute Knowledge of Fact.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
The value or worth of a man is, as of all other things, his price that is to say, so much as would be given for the use of his power.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
This I know God cannot sin, because his doing a thing makes it just, and consequently, no sin.... And therefore it is blasphemy to say, God can sin but to say, that God can so order the world, as a sin may be necessarily caused thereby in a man, I do not see how it is any dishonor to him.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
The oath adds nothing to the obligation. For a covenant, if lawful, binds in the sight of God, without the oath, as much as with it if unlawful, bindeth not at all, though it be confirmed with an oath.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
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
Image
There is no such thing as perpetual tranquility of mind while we live here.
Thomas Hobbes