Faith Quote by Ronald Carter
““The beliefs and behaviour of the Restoration reflect the theories of society put forward by Thomas Hobbes in The Leviathan, which was written in exile in Paris and published in 1651. Like many texts of the time, The Leviathan is an allegory. It recalls mediaeval rather than Renaissance thinking. The leviathan is the Commonwealth, society as a total organism, in which the individual is the absolute subject of state control, represented by the monarch. Man - motivated by self-interest - is acquisitive and lacks codes of behaviour. Hence the necessity for a strong controlling state, 'an artificial man', to keep discord at bay. Self-interest and stability become the keynotes of British society after 1660, the voice of the new middle-class bourgeoisie making itself heard more and more in the expression of values, ideals, and ethics.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes, 1651
The quote links Hobbesian theory of a strong, centralized state to post‑Restoration British society, emphasizing self‑interest and state control as foundations of order.
In simple terms: Hobbesian ideas shaped British governance after 1660, stressing state power over individual freedom.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how political theory influences societal structures.
Themes
politics
history
philosophy
society
state authority
Mood
critical
analytical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government formation
- legal theory
- public policy
- civic education
Key Concepts
social contract
Leviathan
centralization
self‑interest
Questions to Reflect On
- How does central authority balance order and freedom?
- What are the risks of excessive state control?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook individual liberties and dissenting voices.
![“About Thomas Hobbes: He was 40 years old before he looked on geometry; which happened accidentally. Being in a gentleman's library, Euclid's Elements lay open, and "twas the 47 El. libri I" [Pythagoras' Theorem]. He read the proposition "By God", sayd he, "this is impossible:" So he reads the…” quote by John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d43/john-aubrey-29611_convinced_about-thomas-hobbes-he-was-40-years-old_1668279.jpg)
