Quote #19

Man gives indifferent names to one and the same thing from the difference of their own passions; as they that approve a private opinion call it opinion; but they that mislike it, heresy: and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion.

More from Thomas Hobbes

  1. In the first place, I put for a general inclination of all mankind a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only …
  2. And this Feare of things invisible, is the naturall Seed of that, which every one in himself calleth Religion; and in them that worship, or…
  3. Felicity is a continual progress of the desire from one object to another, the attaining of the former being still but the way to the latte…
  4. In these four things, opinion of ghosts, ignorance of second causes, devotions towards what men fear, and taking of things casual for progn…
  5. By Manners, I mean not here decency of behaviour; as how one man should salute another, or how a man should wash his mouth, or pick his tee…
  6. For Prudence, is but Experience; which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.
  7. The 'value' or 'worth' of a man is, as of all other things, his price; that is to say, so much as would be given for the use of his power.
  8. For such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; Yet the…

All Thomas Hobbes quotes