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A democracy is no more than an aristocracy of orators. The people are so readily moved by demagogues that control must be exercised by the government over speech and press.

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
Press
Moved
Speech
Demagogues
Control
Orators
Democracy
Exercised
Government
Aristocracy
Must
Readily
People
Presses

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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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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.
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The errors of definitions multiply themselves according as the reckoning proceeds and lead men into absurdities, which at last they see but cannot avoid, without reckoning anew from the beginning.
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Ignorance of the law is no good excuse, where every man is bound to take notice of the laws to which he is subject.
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Government is necessary, not because man is naturally bad... but because man is by nature more individualistic than social.
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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.
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The Enemy has been here in the night of our natural ignorance, and sown the tares of spiritual errors.
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And Beasts that have Deliberation , must necessarily also have Will .
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As in the presence of the Master, the Servants are equall, and without any honour at all So are the Subjects, in the presence of the Soveraign. And though they shine some more, some lesse, when they are out of his sight yet in his presence, they shine no more than the Starres in presence of the Sun.
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All men, among themselves, are by nature equal. The inequality we now discern hath its spring from the civil law.
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In a Democracy, look how many Demagogs that is how many powerful Orators there are with the people.
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The object of man's desire is not to enjoy once only, and for one instant of time but to assure for ever, the way of his future desires.
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If I read as many books as most men do, I would be as dull-witted as they are.
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Whatsoever is the object of any man's Appetite or Desire that is it which he for his part calleth Good: and the object of his Hate and Aversion, evil.
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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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That a man be willing, when others are so too, as far forth as for peace and defense of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself.
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It is many times with a fraudulent Design that men stick their corrupt Doctrine with the Cloves of other mens Wit.
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Such truth, as opposeth no man's profit, nor pleasure, is to all men welcome.
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The flesh endures the storms of the present alone the mind, those of the past and future as well as the present. Gluttony is a lust of the mind.
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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.
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