Quote by Thomas Hobbes: “Laws of nature, without the terror of some power, are contrary to our natural passions.”

This quote asserts that inherent moral laws like justice and mercy are insufficient to guide human behavior without a powerful enforcer. Hobbes believed that human self-interest is so strong that only the fear of punishment can compel people to act virtuously and obey societal rules, preventing chaos.

Hobbes was arguing against the idea that humans could naturally live in harmony or that moral principles alone could sustain a society. His view was shaped by the religious and political conflicts that plagued 17th-century Europe, underscoring the need for a strong secular authority to enforce order.

English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book Leviathan, in which he expounds an influential formulation of social contract theory.