For it can never be that war shall preserve life, and peace destroy it.
— Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher and political theorist, best known for his 1651 book Leviathan, which sets out an influential version of social contract theory. He is considered one of the founders of modern political philosophy.
After his father left the family following a fight, he was taken into the care of a wealthy uncle. His education began in Westport and led him to the University of Oxford, where he studied classical literature and mathematics, and he graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1608. He became a tutor to the Cavendish family, which connected him to intellectual circles and began his extensive travels across Europe, including meetings with figures such as Galileo. Leviathan is his most quoted work in our library.
After his father left the family following a fight, he was taken into the care of a wealthy uncle. His education began in Westport and led him to the University of Oxford, where he studied classical literature and mathematics, and he graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1608. He became a tutor to the Cavendish family, which connected him to intellectual circles and began his extensive travels across Europe, including meetings with figures such as Galileo. Leviathan is his most quoted work in our library.
Most quoted works
- Leviathan 10
Hell is truth seen too late.
— Leviathan
— Leviathan
The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions. Defect in the understanding is ignorance; in reasoning, erroneous opinion.
— Leviathan
Fact be virtuous, or vicious, as Fortune pleaseth
— Leviathan
Another doctrine repugnant to civil society, is that whatsoever a man does against his conscience, is sin; and it dependeth on the presumption of making himself judge of good and evil. For a man's conscience and his judgement are the same thing, and as the judgement, so also the conscience may be erroneous.
— Leviathan
As if it were Injustice to sell dearer than we buy; or to give more to a man than he merits. The value of all things contracted for, is measured by the Appetite of the Contractors: and therefore the just value, is that which they be contented to give.
— Leviathan
Curiosity is the lust of the mind.
Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.
The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it.