Quote

But yet they that have no Science , are in better, and nobler condition with their naturall Prudence than men, that by their mis-reasoning, or by trusting them that reason wrong, fall upon false and absurd generall rules.

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
Science
Absurd
Reason
Condition
Better
False
Men
Rules
Conditions
Nobler
Wrong
Trusting
Upon
Prudence
Fall
Reasoning

More quotes by 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
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
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.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
No man is bound by the words themselves, either to kill himselfe, or any other man.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
To be seduced by Orators, as a Monarch by Flatterers.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Understanding is by the flame of the passions never enlightened, but dazzled.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Leisure is the mother of philosophy and commonwealth, the mother of peace and leisure.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
And seeing every man is presumed to do all things in order to his own benefit, no man is a fit Arbitrator in his own cause
Thomas Hobbes
Image
To understand this for sense it is not required that a man should be a geometrician or a logician, but that he should be mad.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
All men, among themselves, are by nature equal. The inequality we now discern hath its spring from the civil law.
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
In sum, all actions and habits are to be esteemed good or evil by their causes and usefulness in reference to the commonwealth, and not by their mediocrity, nor by their being commended. For several men praise several customs, and, contrarily, what one calls vice, another calls virtue, as their present affections lead them.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
And this Feare of things invisible, is the naturall Seed of that, which every one in himself calleth Religion and in them that worship, or feare that Power otherwise than they do, Superstition.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
How could a state be governed, or protected in its foreign relations if every individual remained free to obey or not to obey the law according to his private opinion.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
Words are the counters of wise men, but the money of fools.
Thomas Hobbes
Image
It's my turn, to take a leap into the darkness!
Thomas Hobbes
Image
The power of a man is his present means to obtain some future apparent good.
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
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 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