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For the Lawes of Nature (as Justice, Equity, Modesty, Mercy, and (in summe)doing to others, as wee would be done to,) of themselves, without the terrour of some Power, to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our naturall Passions, that carry us to Partiality, Pride, Revenge, and the like. And Covenants, without the Sword, are but Words, and of no strength to secure a man at all.

— Thomas Hobbes Leviathan (1651)

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More quotes by Thomas Hobbes

For such Truth as opposeth no man's profit nor pleasure is to all men welcome.

Leviathan (1651)

No man's error becomes his own Law; nor obliges him to persist in it.

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And the life of man solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.

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Men looke not at the greatnesse of the evill past, but the greatnesse of the good to follow.

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For Prudence, is but Experience; which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Thomas Hobbes (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.