Quote

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.

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
Seems
Besides
Body
Easily
Whosoever
Without
Subject
Evade
Many
Therefore
Multiplication
Much
Subjects
Imply
Understood
Diligence
Law
Ambiguity
Words
Compass

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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.
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The power of a man is his present means to obtain some future apparent good.
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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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Men measure not only other men, but all other things, by themselves.
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When a man tells me God hath spoken in a dream, I know he dreamt that God spoke to him.
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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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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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If any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies.
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And Beasts that have Deliberation , must necessarily also have Will .
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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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The Register of Knowledge of Fact is called History .
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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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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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When all the world is overcharged with inhabitants, then the last remedy of all is war, which provideth for every man, by victory or death.
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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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The first cause of Absurd conclusions I ascribe to the want of Method.
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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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Intemperance is naturally punished with diseases rashness, with mischance injustice with violence of enemies pride, with ruin cowardice, with oppression and rebellion, with slaughter.
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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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