Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English philosopher, best known for his work on political philosophy, particularly for his book Leviathan (1651). In this foundational text, Hobbes explored the nature of human beings, the concept of the state, and the necessity of a strong government to ensure peace and security. His philosophy is often associated with the social contract theory, where individuals relinquish certain freedoms in exchange for protection and order. Hobbes’ ideas were revolutionary in his time and continue to have a profound impact on political theory, ethics, and philosophy.
In this collection of 25 of the best Thomas Hobbes quotes, we will explore his thoughts on human nature, the state, power, morality, and religion. These quotes reflect his profound insights into human behavior and political organization, as well as his understanding of the importance of authority and security in ensuring social harmony.
1. “The condition of man… is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.”
This quote encapsulates Hobbes’ bleak view of human nature, which he elaborates in Leviathan. According to Hobbes, in the state of nature—before the formation of any government or social contract—humans are driven by selfish desires and instincts. This creates a situation where everyone is in constant conflict, each person trying to secure their own survival and interests. The result is a “war of all against all,” where no one can trust anyone else, and life becomes “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
2. “Nature hath made men so equal, in the faculties of body and mind… that though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or of quicker mind than another, yet when all is reckoned together, the difference between man and man is not so considerable as that one man can claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend.”
Hobbes believed that humans were fundamentally equal in their capacities, with any apparent differences in strength or intelligence being of relatively minor significance in the grand scheme of things. His view here is not a utopian one, but a recognition that while individuals may differ, no one is so inherently superior that they can dominate others by virtue of their natural attributes. This equality of ability leads, in Hobbes’ view, to competition and conflict, as each person seeks to protect their own interests.
3. “A man is a wolf to another man.”
This quote reflects Hobbes’ view of human nature in the state of nature. The Latin phrase “homo homini lupus” (a man is a wolf to another man) conveys Hobbes’ belief that without the constraints of law and society, humans are like wild animals, driven by self-interest and capable of great cruelty. In Hobbes’ vision, only a strong, central authority can curb this primal behavior and prevent society from descending into chaos.
4. “Covenants, without the sword, are but words and of no strength to secure a man at all.”
Hobbes argued that agreements or covenants between individuals are meaningless unless there is a force or authority capable of enforcing them. The “sword” here symbolizes the power of the state, which Hobbes believes is necessary to ensure that contracts and promises are upheld. Without enforcement, covenants become empty promises that people are free to break without consequence.
5. “Fear and I were born twins.”
Hobbes considered fear to be one of the primary drivers of human behavior, especially in the state of nature. Fear, according to Hobbes, motivates individuals to seek security, leading them to create social contracts and establish governments. Fear is also what makes individuals vulnerable to the chaos of the state of nature and is the reason they are willing to submit to the authority of a sovereign who can provide safety and order.
6. “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.”
Hobbes’ concept of the “right of nature” refers to the fundamental right of each individual to do whatever they believe is necessary to preserve their own life and well-being. In the state of nature, this right is unlimited, meaning that individuals can use any means at their disposal, including force, to protect themselves. However, this right is tempered by the social contract, where individuals agree to limit some of their natural liberties in exchange for the protection of a sovereign authority.
7. “The condition of man… is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.”
In his view of the state of nature, Hobbes argued that humans, left to their own devices, would inevitably fall into a “war of all against all” because each individual would be concerned with protecting their own survival. This war-like state is characterized by constant fear, uncertainty, and danger, making it impossible for people to achieve any form of peace or cooperation without an overarching authority to regulate behavior.
8. “In the state of nature, profit is the measure of right.”
For Hobbes, the state of nature is not only a condition of violence but also one where individuals act according to their own interests, using whatever means they deem necessary to secure their welfare. Hobbes argued that in such a state, there are no moral rules or constraints—everything is determined by the individual’s desire for self-preservation and gain. The “measure of right” in this context is what is profitable for oneself, which often leads to conflicts with others.
9. “During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man.”
This quote reiterates Hobbes’ fundamental idea that without a central authority, human life would descend into chaos, where every person is at war with every other person. This “war of all against all” is not necessarily physical violence at all times, but it refers to a condition of perpetual uncertainty, where trust does not exist and everyone is a potential threat to everyone else.
10. “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.”
In Hobbes’ philosophy, the “right of nature” is the basic and unrestricted right of individuals to do whatever they believe is necessary to preserve themselves. This view underlines Hobbes’ belief that, in the absence of social order, humans would act solely out of self-interest, and survival would be their primary concern. However, this right is relinquished when individuals enter into a social contract, agreeing to submit to a common authority for mutual protection.
11. “A kingdom founded upon injustice, is a kingdom that is established upon the ruins of society.”
Hobbes was deeply concerned with the idea of justice and injustice in society. He believed that any system of government that was founded on injustice—whether through deceit, manipulation, or lawlessness—would ultimately collapse, leading to societal decay. For Hobbes, a just government was essential for maintaining order and ensuring the stability of society. Only a sovereign authority could provide the framework for justice and guarantee peace.
12. “The passions that encline men to peace are fear of death, desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living, and a hope by their industry to obtain them.”
Hobbes identified fear, desire, and hope as the primary passions that drive human behavior in the state of nature. Fear of death pushes individuals to seek peace and security, while the desire for necessities and the hope of achieving these through industry motivate people to work together. In Hobbes’ view, these passions are what ultimately lead individuals to form a social contract and establish a government that can protect their lives and interests.
13. “The public and the private interest of a state are in all cases the same.”
Hobbes believed that the interests of the individual and the state were fundamentally aligned. In his view, individuals in a society should pursue their own self-interest, but their self-interest would be best served when they also contribute to the common good. A strong state is needed to regulate the balance between public and private interests, ensuring that the actions of individuals do not lead to chaos or conflict.
14. “No man is a good man, and that good men are those that are guided by reason, and by laws, and by the sovereign.”
This quote highlights Hobbes’ belief that humans, by nature, are not inherently good but are driven by self-interest. For Hobbes, moral behavior is not an inherent quality of individuals but rather a product of external influences such as laws, reason, and the authority of the sovereign. Only under the guidance of a strong sovereign can individuals be prevented from acting out of self-interest and contribute to the common good.
15. “The sovereign is he, or it, to whom all men are authoritatively subject.”
For Hobbes, the sovereign is the central authority to whom all individuals owe allegiance. The sovereign’s power is absolute, and it is through the sovereign that order and security are maintained in society. In Hobbes’ social contract theory, individuals give up certain freedoms and submit to the authority of the sovereign in exchange for protection and the preservation of peace.
16. “The essence of the sovereign is nothing else but the delegation of the power of all, to the one.”
Hobbes believed that in the social contract, individuals collectively delegate their power to a sovereign ruler or institution. This transfer of power is essential for the establishment of order in society. The sovereign’s role is to ensure the protection and well-being of all individuals by making and enforcing laws. This delegation of authority is the foundation of Hobbes’ conception of the state.
17. “In the nature of the will, it is the power of choosing one thing rather than another.”
Hobbes viewed the human will as the capacity to make decisions and choices. However, he believed that this power of choice was not free in the sense that modern thinkers often envision. For Hobbes, the will is determined by prior causes such as desires, fears, and external influences. While humans have the ability to make decisions, those decisions are always the result of underlying factors, including rational thought and emotional impulses. This deterministic view of human will contrasts with the idea of free will as a purely autonomous power to choose independently of prior causes.
18. “The liberty of a subject… consists in this, that he shall be protected against the injury of others.”
For Hobbes, liberty does not mean the absence of constraint, but rather the freedom to live without the fear of violence or harm from others. In the state of nature, individuals have unlimited liberty, but this liberty is precarious because there is no protection from others who might act on their own self-interest. The role of government, for Hobbes, is to provide the protection and security that allows individuals to enjoy a form of liberty that is not threatened by the aggression or selfishness of others.
19. “The greatest of all is the power of the sovereign, for it is from that power that all other powers are derived.”
This quote underscores the central role of the sovereign in Hobbes’ political theory. The sovereign is the source of all political power and authority, and all other powers within a society are derived from the sovereign’s will. In Hobbes’ ideal state, the sovereign has absolute power to enforce laws, maintain order, and protect the citizens. The legitimacy of all other authorities, such as courts or government institutions, depends on the sovereign’s overarching authority.
20. “The power of the sovereign is in the hands of the people, who are free to choose whom they will serve.”
While Hobbes believed in an absolute sovereign, he also recognized that the power of the state ultimately depends on the consent of the governed. In his social contract theory, the people enter into a mutual agreement to form a society and submit to the authority of a sovereign. This act of consent is foundational to the legitimacy of the state. Hobbes contended that the people must have the freedom to choose their sovereign, and their consent is what grants the sovereign its power.
21. “The first and fundamental law of nature, which is to seek peace and follow it.”
Hobbes argued that the fundamental natural law that governs human behavior is the pursuit of peace. In the state of nature, where there is constant conflict, individuals naturally seek peace as a way to secure their survival and well-being. The desire for peace is not simply a moral choice but a practical one—by seeking peace, individuals are more likely to avoid the violence and chaos that would otherwise dominate their lives.
22. “To be subject to the laws of nature is to be subject to the will of the sovereign.”
In Hobbes’ theory, the laws of nature are not abstract principles but are the dictates of the sovereign who governs society. Since the sovereign has the ultimate authority to create laws, individuals are subject to these laws, which are in turn aligned with the sovereign’s will. Hobbes saw the sovereign’s authority as essential for the preservation of order, and without it, society would return to the anarchy of the state of nature.
23. “A free man is he who, in those things which by his own reason he can judge to be good, does as he wishes.”
In Hobbes’ philosophy, freedom is not the absence of all constraints, but the ability to act in accordance with one’s own reason and judgment, so long as these actions do not harm others or threaten the stability of society. True freedom, for Hobbes, comes from the ability to make choices that align with one’s rational understanding of what is beneficial. However, this freedom is always tempered by the authority of the sovereign, whose laws must be obeyed to maintain peace and order.
24. “The end of the law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.”
This quote reflects Hobbes’ paradoxical view of law. On the one hand, laws impose restrictions on individual actions. However, Hobbes contends that the true purpose of law is not to diminish freedom, but rather to safeguard and extend it. By establishing a system of laws, the sovereign ensures that individuals can live without fear of violence, allowing them to exercise their natural rights and pursue their interests in peace. In this sense, laws expand freedom by creating the conditions for social stability and cooperation.
25. “Without civil society, the world would be in a perpetual state of war.”
Hobbes believed that only through the establishment of civil society, governed by a powerful sovereign, could individuals escape the chaos of the state of nature. Without a governing authority to maintain peace and resolve conflicts, Hobbes feared that humanity would return to a constant state of warfare, where survival is uncertain, and no one can trust anyone else. Civil society, for Hobbes, provides the framework for cooperation and mutual benefit, ensuring that individuals can live relatively peacefully and productively.
Conclusion
Thomas Hobbes’ philosophy has had a lasting impact on political theory and ethics. His insights into human nature, the necessity of a sovereign authority, and the social contract continue to shape discussions of governance and morality. Hobbes’ quotes reflect his deep understanding of the complexities of human behavior and the challenges of establishing order in a chaotic world. While his view of human nature is often criticized for being too pessimistic, his emphasis on the importance of security, law, and social cohesion remains relevant today.
Through his work, Hobbes articulated the necessity of a strong, centralized authority to prevent the descent into anarchy and violence. His vision of the state as a construct built on the mutual consent of individuals seeking peace has influenced subsequent philosophers and political theorists, particularly in the areas of democracy, authority, and the nature of individual rights. Whether one agrees with his conclusions or not, Hobbes’ philosophy forces us to confront the fundamental questions of human nature, society, and the role of power in maintaining order and security.