Thomas Hobbes, (1588 - 1679) Quotes

Faith is a gift of God which man can neither give nor take away by promise of rewards, or menaces of torture.

There can be no greater argument to a man of his own power than to find himself able not only to accomplish his own desires, but also to assist other men in theirs; and this is that conception wherein consisteth charity.

Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.

(I find it difficult to believe) that God who is the father of Mercies, that doth in heaven and Earth all that hee will; that hath the hearts of all men in his disposing; that worketh in men both to doe, and to will; and without whose free gift a man hath neither inclination to good, nor repentance of evill, should punish mens transgressions without any end of time and with all the extremity of torture, that men can imagine and more.

Covenants, without the sword, are but words, and of no strength to secure a man at all. The bonds of words are too weak to bridle man's ambition, avarice, anger, and other passions, without the fear of some coercive power.

He thinks to kill two birds with one stone, and satisfy two arguments with one answer.

Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Words are the counters of wise man, and the money of fools.

The privilege of absurdity, to which no living creature is subject but men only.

Fear of things invisible in the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.