1588-1679, British Philosopher
A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.
Thomas Hobbes – [Conscience]
Curiosity is the lust of the mind.
Thomas Hobbes – [Curiosity]
Desire to know why, and how — curiosity, which is a lust of the mind, that a perseverance of delight in the continued and indefatigable generation of knowledge — exceedeth the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.
Thomas Hobbes – [Curiosity]
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.
Thomas Hobbes – [Religion]
Force, and fraud, are in war the two cardinal virtues.
Thomas Hobbes – [War]
He that is taken and put into prison or chains is not conquered, though overcome; for he is still an enemy.
Thomas Hobbes – [Prison]
I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.
Thomas Hobbes – [Famous Last Words]
In the state of nature profit is the measure of right.
Thomas Hobbes – [Profits]
Leisure is the mother of Philosophy.
Thomas Hobbes – [Leisure]
Man is distinguished, not only by his reason; but also by this singular passion from other animals… which is a lust of the mind, that by a perseverance of delight in the continual and indefatigable generation of knowledge, exceeds the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.
Thomas Hobbes – [Knowledge]
No mans error becomes his own Law; nor obliges him to persist in it.
Thomas Hobbes – [Mistakes]
Prudence is but experience, which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.
Thomas Hobbes – [Caution]
Science is the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another.
Thomas Hobbes – [Science and Scientists]
Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.
Thomas Hobbes – [Wisdom]
Sudden glory is the passion which makes those grimaces called laughter.
Thomas Hobbes – [Glory]
The flesh endures the storms of the present alone; the mind, those of the past and future as well as the present. Gluttony is a lust of the mind.
Thomas Hobbes – [Food and Eating]
The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.
Thomas Hobbes – [State]
The praise of ancient authors proceeds not from the reverence of the dead, but from the competition and mutual envy of the living.
Thomas Hobbes – [Books: Classics]
The privilege of absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man only.
Thomas Hobbes – [Absurdity]
The secret thoughts of a man run over all things, holy, profane, clean, obscene, grave, and light, without shame or blame.
Thomas Hobbes – [Secrets]