Thomas Hobbes Quotes
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.
In a Democracy, look how many Demagogs that is how many powerful Orators there are with the people.
Ambition, and Covetousnesse are Passions that are perpetually incumbent, and pressing.
The Enemy has been here in the night of our natural ignorance, and sown the tares of spiritual errors.
Prudence is but experience, which equal time equally bestows on all men in those things they equally apply themselves unto.
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.
For it is with the mysteries of our religion, as with wholesome pills for the sick, which swallowed whole, have the virtue to cure; but chewed, are for the most part cast up again without effect.
Opinion of ghosts, ignorance of second causes, devotion to what men fear, and talking of things casual for prognostics, consisteth the natural seeds of religion
By how much one man has more experience of things past, than another, by so much also he is more prudent, and his expectations the seldomer fail him.
A wise man should so write (though in words understood by all men) that wise men only should be able to commend him.
To understand this for sense it is not required that a man should be a geometrician or a logician, but that he should be mad.
And this Feare of things invisible, is the naturall Seed of that, which every one in himself calleth Religion; and in them that worship, or feare that Power otherwise than they do, Superstition.
Science is the knowledge of Consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another: by which, out of that we can presently do, we know how to do something else when we will, or the like, another time
Leisure is the mother of philosophy; and commonwealth, the mother of peace and leisure.
A free man is he that, in those things which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to do what he has a will to.
This is that law of the Gospel; whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them.
Whatsoever is the object of any man's Appetite or Desire; that is it which he for his part calleth Good: and the object of his Hate and Aversion, evil.
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
Faith is a gift of God, which man can neither give nor take away by promise of rewards or menace of torture.
To say God spake or appeared as he is in his own nature, is to deny his Infiniteness, Invisibility, Incomprehensibility.
Wisdom, properly so called, is nothing else but this: the perfect knowledge of the truth in all matters whatsoever.
From whence it follows, that were the publique and private interest are most closely united, there is the publique most advanced.
When a man tells me God hath spoken in a dream, I know he dreamt that God spoke to him.
Men looke not at the greatnesse of the evill past, but the greatnesse of the good to follow.
For all uniting of strength by private men, is, if for evil intent, unjust; if for intent unknown, dangerous to the Publique, and unjustly concealed.
For naturall Bloud is in like manner made of the fruits of the Earth; and circulating, nourisheth by the way, every Member of the Body of Man.
Of all Discourse , governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End , either by attaining, or by giving over.
The characters of man's heart, blotted and confounded as they are with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible only to him that searcheth hearts.
