Common Quote by Thomas Hobbes
“Where there is no common power, there is no law”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Leviathan, 1651
Law exists only when a common authority enforces it.
In simple terms: No power, no law.
Key Takeaway
Establish shared authority.
Themes
authority
law
order
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government formation
- community governance
- legal systems
- public policy
Key Concepts
political theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- Who should hold power?
- How to balance authority and liberty?
A Different Perspective
Power can be abused, leading to oppression.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
