Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, historian, and scientist, best known for his political philosophy, especially his famous work Leviathan, published in 1651. The book concerns the structure of society and legitimate government and is regarded as one of the earliest examples of social contract theory. Here are the best Thomas Hobbes quotes that reflect his ideas and views on the role of government, human nature, and the dynamics of societal order.
Considered to be one of the Founders of modern political philosophy, Hobbes was an Enlightenment philosopher who lived during the late 1500s and much of the 1600s.
Living through the English Civil War, Hobbes was heavily influenced by the chaos of his time, shaping his views on the necessity of a strong central authority to maintain order in society.
His philosophical views delved into human nature, advocating that people are naturally selfish, driven by a desire for self-interest. He never believed in moral ideas when it came to human’s natural state.
This influenced his political beliefs, where he largely supported absolute monarchy as a way to curb potential anarchy.
His experience during the war made him believe that it is very important to have a powerful government to prevent things from falling apart.
Apart from political philosophy, Hobbes contributed to various other fields, including history, geometry, ethics, theology, and philosophy in general.
Hobbes’ book, Leviathan popularized the social contract theory and the state of nature concept (“war of all against all”). His ideas and thoughts have had a lasting influence on our understanding of power and governance.
Here are the most famous John Locke quotes on government, human nature, democracy, politics, freedom, and more that will inspire you and give you a different perspective on life.
Top 10 Thomas Hobbes Quotes
- “Words are the money of fools.” — Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes Quotes - “Curiosity is the lust of the mind.” — Thomas Hobbes
Quotes By Thomas Hobbes - “If nobody makes you do it, it counts as fun.” — Thomas Hobbes
Quotes From Thomas Hobbes - “It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.” — Thomas Hobbes
Famous Quotes Of Thomas Hobbes - “Where there is no common power, there is no law.” — Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes Sayings - “Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” — Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes Quotations - “The condition of man… is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Science is the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Government is necessary, not because man is naturally bad… but because man is by nature more individualistic than social.” — Thomas Hobbes
Famous Quotes By Thomas Hobbes
- “Hell is Truth Seen Too Late.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “I think, therefore matter is capable of thinking.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Unnecessary laws are not good laws, but traps for money.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Humans are driven by a perpetual and restless desire of power.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Religions are like pills, which must be swallowed whole without chewing.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “For there are very few so foolish who would not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “If any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “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
- “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
- “There is no such thing as perpetual tranquility 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.” — Thomas Hobbes
Best Thomas Hobbes Quotes
- “Leisure is the Mother of Philosophy.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “The passions of men are commonly more potent than their reason.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “For it can never be that war shall preserve life, and peace destroy it.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Wisdom, properly so called, is nothing else but this: the perfect knowledge of the truth in all matters whatsoever.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called ‘Facts’. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “War consisteth not in battle only, or the act of fighting; but in a tract of time, wherein the will to contend by battle is sufficiently known.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “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.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “The original of all great and lasting societies consisted not in the mutual good will men had toward each other, but in the mutual fear they had of each other.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.” — Thomas Hobbes
Popular Quotes From Thomas Hobbes
- “The world is governed by opinion.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “The reputation of power IS power.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Words are the counters of wise men, and the money of fools.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which every one in himself calleth religion.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Only the present has a right to exist because the past is only a memory and the future has no existence.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “All men, among themselves, are by nature equal. The inequality we now discern hath its spring from the civil law.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “A man’s conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “In the nature of man, we find three principal causes of quarrel. First, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly, glory.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “Let a man (as most men do) rate themselves as the highest Value they can; yet their true Value is no more than it is esteemed by others.” — Thomas Hobbes
- “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.” — Thomas Hobbes
Conclusion
Hobbes views and thoughts offer profound insights into the complexities of human behavior and the dynamics of the societal structures.
His ideas, may be controversial, continue to resonate with people, challenging them to question the role of government and the nature of humanity.
Whether you agree or disagree with his thoughts, his words of wisdom keep reminding us of the need or a social contract to maintain order and stability in society.
These Thomas Hobbes’ quotes will inspire you to strive for a society that is built on justice, cooperation, and peace.
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If you like these thought-provoking and inspirational quotes by Thomas Hobbes then check out our collection of John Locke quotes to get motivated and inspired.
If we have missed some quotes, share them with us in the comment section below and we shall be happy to add them to the list.
