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The Interpretation of the Laws of Nature in a Common-wealth, dependeth not on the books of Moral Philosophy. The Authority of writers, without the Authority of the Commonwealth, maketh not their opinions Law, be they never so true.

— 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.

Leviathan (1651)

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

Leviathan (1651)

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

Leviathan (1651)

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

Leviathan (1651)

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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.