Thomas Hobbes Quotes: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Contents

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who wrote about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He is best known for his 1651 book Leviathan , which argued that people should give up some of their rights in order to have a strong government. His ideas have had a lasting impact on political philosophy and have been influential in the development of modern democracies. In this article, we will explore some of Thomas Hobbes' most famous quotes and learn more about his philosophy. Thomas Hobbes was a renowned philosopher who lived in the 17th century. He is best known for his political philosophy, which emphasized the importance of social order and stability. One of his most famous quotes is 'life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.' This quote reflects Hobbes' belief that without a strong government to maintain order and protect citizens from each other's violence, life would be chaotic and dangerous.Hobbes also believed in the importance of individual liberty. He argued that people have a natural right to pursue their own interests as long as they do not harm others. However, he also believed that this freedom must be balanced with obedience to authority in order to prevent chaos.Finally, Hobbes believed that happiness could only be achieved through peace and security. In his view, individuals could not truly pursue their own interests or find fulfillment if they were constantly at risk of violence or instability.Overall, Thomas Hobbes' ideas about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness continue to influence political philosophy today. To explore more inspiring quotes by other great thinkers like Marianne Williamson or Nassim Nicholas Taleb on randomness , check out these links: quotes by marianne williamson , quotes on randomness .

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Thomas Hobbes Quotes on Life

Thomas Hobbes believed that life was 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.' He argued that people should give up some of their rights in order to have a strong government that could protect them from the chaos of life. He wrote, 'The only way to erect such a common power, as may be able to defend them from the invasion of foreigners, and the injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such sort as that by their own industry and by the fruits of the earth they may nourish themselves and live contentedly, is to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, unto one will.'



Thomas Hobbes Quotes on Liberty

Thomas Hobbes believed that people should give up some of their rights in order to have a strong government that could protect them from the chaos of life. He wrote, 'The only way to erect such a common power, as may be able to defend them from the invasion of foreigners, and the injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such sort as that by their own industry and by the fruits of the earth they may nourish themselves and live contentedly, is to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, unto one will.'

Thomas Hobbes Quotes on the Pursuit of Happiness

Thomas Hobbes believed that people should pursue their own happiness, but that they should also be aware of the consequences of their actions. He wrote, 'The right of nature, which writers commonly call jus naturale, 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; and consequently, of doing anything which in his own judgment and reason he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto.'

Thomas Hobbes Quotes on Government

Thomas Hobbes believed that people should give up some of their rights in order to have a strong government that could protect them from the chaos of life. He wrote, 'The only way to erect such a common power, as may be able to defend them from the invasion of foreigners, and the injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such sort as that by their own industry and by the fruits of the earth they may nourish themselves and live contentedly, is to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, unto one will.'

Thomas Hobbes Quotes on Human Nature

Thomas Hobbes believed that human nature was inherently selfish and that people should be aware of the consequences of their actions. He wrote, 'The passions that incline 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. And reason suggesteth convenient articles of peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement.'

Thomas Hobbes Quotes on Religion

Thomas Hobbes believed that religion should be kept separate from politics and that people should be free to practice their own religion without interference from the government. He wrote, 'The right of nature, which writers commonly call jus naturale, 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; and consequently, of doing anything which in his own judgment and reason he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto.'

Conclusion

Thomas Hobbes was an influential English philosopher who wrote about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. His ideas have had a lasting impact on political philosophy and have been influential in the development of modern democracies. In this article, we explored some of Thomas Hobbes' most famous quotes and learned more about his philosophy. We hope that this article has helped you to gain a better understanding of Thomas Hobbes and his ideas.

FAQ

  • Q: Who was Thomas Hobbes?
    A: Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who wrote about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
  • Q: What is Thomas Hobbes' most famous work?
    A: Thomas Hobbes' most famous work is his 1651 book Leviathan , which argued that people should give up some of their rights in order to have a strong government.
  • Q: What did Thomas Hobbes believe about human nature?
    A: Thomas Hobbes believed that human nature was inherently selfish and that people should be aware of the consequences of their actions.

Table of Thomas Hobbes' Quotes

Quote Topic
'The only way to erect such a common power, as may be able to defend them from the invasion of foreigners, and the injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such sort as that by their own industry and by the fruits of the earth they may nourish themselves and live contentedly, is to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, unto one will.' Government
'The right of nature, which writers commonly call jus naturale, 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; and consequently, of doing anything which in his own judgment and reason he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto.' Liberty
'The passions that incline 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. And reason suggesteth convenient articles of peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement.' Human Nature

For more information about Thomas Hobbes and his philosophy, please visit Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy .