Arms Quote by Thomas Hobbes
“Those men that are so remissly governed that they dare take up arms to defend or introduce an opinion, are still in war, and their condition not peace, but only a cessation of arms for fear of one another, and they live as it were in the precincts of battle continually.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Leviathan, 1651
Governance that forces people to fight for opinions keeps society in perpetual conflict, not true peace.
In simple terms: Forced opinion battles prevent real peace.
Key Takeaway
Seek genuine consensus.
Themes
politics
conflict
society
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political debate
- community meetings
- legislative processes
- education reform
Key Concepts
social contract
civil discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies resolve deep disagreements?
- What mechanisms foster healthy debate?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate the role of dissent in progress.
