Danger Quote by Thomas Hobbes
““In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; no Instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force; no Knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Leviathan, 1651
Human life without strong governance devolves into chaos, fear, and short, harsh existence.
In simple terms: Without order, life is chaotic and short.
Key Takeaway
Establish stable institutions.
Themes
politics
human nature
society
security
law
Mood
an
cautious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government formation
- community building
- conflict resolution
- public safety
Key Concepts
social contract
state of nature
anarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- What institutions prevent societal collapse?
- How does fear shape behavior?
A Different Perspective
Human nature can be resilient even with weak governance.
