---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is manifest therefore that they who…"
description: "\"It is manifest therefore that they who have sovereign power, are immediate rulers of the church under Christ, and all others but subordinate to them. I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg"
---

#  It is manifest therefore that they who have sovereign…

![“It is manifest therefore that they who have sovereign power, are immediate rulers of the church under Christ, and all others but subordinate to them. If that were not, but kings should command one thing upon pain of death, and priests another upon pain of damnation, it would be impossible that…” quote by Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg)

> “It is manifest therefore that they who have sovereign power, are immediate rulers of the church under Christ, and all others but subordinate to them. If that were not, but kings should command one thing upon pain of death, and priests another upon pain of damnation, it would be impossible that peace and religion should stand together.”

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Sovereign power must control both church and state to maintain peace; conflicting authorities cause disorder.

**In simple terms:** Unified authority prevents conflict between church and state.

Key Takeaway

Support a single governing authority.

Themes

politics religion authority

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political theoretical

When to use this quote

- government policy
- legal systems
- religious institutions
- public order

Key Concepts

social contract state control religious authority

Questions to Reflect On

- Is a single authority always beneficial?
- How to balance religious freedom with state control?

A Different Perspective

Centralized power can suppress individual freedoms.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Subordinate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-subordinate-4825441/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Damnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damnation/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Manifest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifest/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) [Rulers Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers-church-4825443/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Sovereign Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign-power-1259449/) [Stand Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-together/) [Subordinate Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subordinate-kings-4825442/) [Subordinates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subordinates/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sin is an exacting despot who can be vanquished by no created power, but by the sovereign power of Jesus Christ alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/sin-is-an-exacting-despot-who-can-be-vanquished-by-no-created-power/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Self-imposed limits on sovereign power can disarm mistrust, but provide no guarantee of liberty and property beyond those afforded by the balance between state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-jasay/self-imposed-limits-on-sovereign-power-can-disarm-mistrust-but/)

[Anthony de Jasay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-jasay/)

> [Each state enjoys sovereign power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/each-state-enjoys-sovereign-power/)

[Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/)

> [On 18th September 2014, between the hours of 7am and 10pm, absolute sovereign power will lie in the hands of the Scottish people. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sillars/on-18th-september-2014-between-the-hours-of-7am-and-10pm-absolute/)

[Jim Sillars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sillars/)

> [Genius is a sovereign power; it forms schools; it lays hold on the spirits of men, with irresistible might; and it exercises an immeasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/genius-is-a-sovereign-power-it-forms-schools-it-lays-hold-on-the/)

[Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/)

> [The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-people-are-the-government-administering-it-by-their-agents-they/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [I have seen in this revolution a circular motion of the sovereign power through two usurpers, father and son, to the late King to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-seen-in-this-revolution-a-circular-motion-of-the-sovereign/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The sovereign power of all civil authority is founded in the consent of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-sovereign-power-of-all-civil-authority-is-founded-in-the-consent/)

[Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/)

> [Until we realize that our money power is our sovereign power we cannot act as sovereigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-c-riegel/until-we-realize-that-our-money-power-is-our-sovereign-power-we/)

[E.C. Riegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-c-riegel/)

> [The people are the source of governmental power. Along with many religious people, Latter-day Saints affirm that God gave the power to the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-people-are-the-source-of-governmental-power-along-with-many/)

[Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/)

> [Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control; these three alone lead one to sovereign power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/self-reverence-self-knowledge-self-control-these-three-alone-lead-one/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control - these three alone lead life to sovereign power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/self-reverence-self-knowledge-self-control-these-three-alone-lead/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [Families are like friends at school, at first you have no idea about them, but right after you talk talking and getting attach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asiya-sasika-khan/families-are-like-friends-at-school-at-first-you-have-no-idea-about/)

[Asiya Sasika Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asiya-sasika-khan/)

> [If we all stand together we're a force that can shake the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/if-we-all-stand-together-we-re-a-force-that-can-shake-the-whole-world/)

[A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/)

> [Mine would be, "We will stand together, he and I. One in victory, one in shame. Only then can I truly own the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mine-would-be-we-will-stand-together-he-and-i-one-in-victory-one-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Thomas Hobbes

> [“Give an inch, he'll take an ell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/give-an-inch-he-ll-take-an-ell/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Do not that to another, which thou wouldst not have done to thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/do-not-that-to-another-which-thou-wouldst-not-have-done-to-thyself/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [For it is with the mysteries of our religion, as with wholesome pills for the sick, which swallowed whole, have the virtue to cure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-it-is-with-the-mysteries-of-our-religion-as-with-wholesome-pills/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Intemperance is naturally punished with diseases; rashness, with mischance; injustice; with violence of enemies; pride, with ruin; cowardice, with oppression; and rebellion, with slaughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/intemperance-is-naturally-punished-with-diseases-rashness-with/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-man-s-conscience-and-his-judgment-is-the-same-thing-and-as-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [He that is to govern a whole Nation , must read in himself, not this, or that particular man; but Mankind; which though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/he-that-is-to-govern-a-whole-nation-must-read-in-himself-not-this-or/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [If men are naturally in a state of war, why do they always carry arms and why do they have keys to lock their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/if-men-are-naturally-in-a-state-of-war-why-do-they-always-carry-arms/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Let a man (as most men do) rate themselves as the highest Value they can; yet their true Value is no more than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/let-a-man-as-most-men-do-rate-themselves-as-the-highest-value-they/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [A free man is he that, in those things which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-free-man-is-he-that-in-those-things-which-by-his-strength-and-wit/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [“Covenants, without the sword, are but words and of no strength to secure a man at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/covenants-without-the-sword-are-but-words-and-of-no-strength-to/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Fear of things invisible in the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/fear-of-things-invisible-in-the-natural-seed-of-that-which-everyone/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Because silver and gold have their value from the matter itself, they have first this privilege, that the value of them cannot be altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/because-silver-and-gold-have-their-value-from-the-matter-itself-they/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/what-reason-is-there-that-he-which-laboreth-much-and-sparing-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The cause of Sense, is the External Body, or Object, which presseth the organ proper to each Sense, either immediately, as in theTaste and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-cause-of-sense-is-the-external-body-or-object-which-presseth-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The characters of man's heart, blotted and confounded as they are with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible only to him that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-characters-of-man-s-heart-blotted-and-confounded-as-they-are-with/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

[Explore all 285 Thomas Hobbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

## More Christ quotes

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/)

[C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/)

> [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/)

[Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/)

> [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/)

[John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/)

> [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/)

[Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/)

> [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/)

[Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/)

> [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/)

[Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/)

[Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/)

> [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

[Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is manifest therefore that they who have sovereign power, are immediate rulers of the church under Christ, and all others but subordinate to them. If that were not, but kings should command one thing upon pain of death, and priests another upon pain of damnation, it would be impossible that peace and religion should stand together.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Hobbes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-have-sovereign-power-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christ"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-have-sovereign-power-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/thomas-hobbes-1127_christ_it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-h_2199548.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is manifest therefore that they who have sovereign power, are immediate rulers of the church under…” — Thomas Hobbes",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Thomas Hobbes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is manifest therefore that they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-have-sovereign-power-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/it-is-manifest-therefore-that-they-who-have-sovereign-power-are/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
