“During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe they are in that condition which is called war and such a war as is of every man against every man”
— Thomas Hobbes
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Simplified Meaning:
When there is no authority or leader to control and manage people, they tend to fight and compete with each other. Think of a classroom with no teacher. If nobody is there to set rules or guide the students, they might argue, push each other, or make a mess. Similarly, without a government or some form of leadership, society would fall into chaos where everyone only looks out for themselves, leading to conflict and violence. People might steal from each other, lie, or hurt others just to get what they want. To avoid such disorder, societies create laws and appoint rulers to maintain peace and cooperation. So, having a common power or authority helps keep everyone in check and ensures a more harmonious community.
Related tags
Anarchy Conflict Human nature Leviathan Political philosophy Power Social contract State of nature Thomas hobbes War
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