Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher

1588-04-05 – 1679-12-04

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher and political theorist best known for Leviathan (1651). His work on social contract theory and the foundations of state authority was central to early modern political philosophy.

Books by Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan

Or the Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiastical and Civil
View on Amazon
Human nature

part I, Human nature, part II, De corpore politico ; with Three lives
View on Amazon
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury
View on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Quotes by Thomas Hobbes

The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it.
Read quote
And because the condition of man . . . is a condition of war of every one against every one, in which case every one is governed by his own reason, and there is nothing he can make use of that may not be a help unto him in preserving his life against his enemies; it followeth that in such a condition every man has a right to every thing, even to one another's body. And therefore, as long as this natural right of every man to every thing endureth, there can be no security to any man, how strong or wise soever he be, of living out the time which nature ordinarily alloweth men to live. And consequently it is a precept, or general rule of reason: that every man ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war. The first branch of which rule containeth the first and fundamental law of nature, which is: to seek peace and follow it. The second, the sum of the right of nature, which is: by all means we can to defend ourselves.
Read quote
Curiosity is the lust of the mind.
Read quote
Now I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark
Read quote
Felicity is a continual progress of the desire, from one object to another; the attaining of the former being still but the way to the latter.
Read quote
Hell is truth seen too late.
Read quote
For it can never be that war shall preserve life, and peace destroy it.
Read quote
Felicity is a continual progress of the desire, from one object to another; the attaining of the former being still but the way to the latter.
Read quote
Now I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark
Read quote
Curiosity is the lust of the mind.
Read quote
And because the condition of man . . . is a condition of war of every one against every one, in which case every one is governed by his own reason, and there is nothing he can make use of that may not be a help unto him in preserving his life against his enemies; it followeth that in such a condition every man has a right to every thing, even to one another's body. And therefore, as long as this natural right of every man to every thing endureth, there can be no security to any man, how strong or wise soever he be, of living out the time which nature ordinarily alloweth men to live. And consequently it is a precept, or general rule of reason: that every man ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war. The first branch of which rule containeth the first and fundamental law of nature, which is: to seek peace and follow it. The second, the sum of the right of nature, which is: by all means we can to defend ourselves.
Read quote
Hell is truth seen too late.
Read quote
The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it.
Read quote
For it can never be that war shall preserve life, and peace destroy it.
Read quote
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.
Read quote
Understanding is nothing else than conception caused by speech.
Read quote
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.
Read quote
The privilege of absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man only.
Read quote
Laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly.
Read quote
There is no such thing as perpetual tranquillity of mind while we live here; because life itself is but motion, and can never be without desire, nor without fear, no more than without sense.
Read quote