Quote by Thomas Hobbes: “The value of a man is his price; so much as would be given for the use of his power.”

Hobbes presents a stark, almost economic view of human worth, reducing it to what others are willing to pay for one's abilities or services. This reflects his materialist philosophy, seeing individuals as instruments whose value is determined by their utility in society, rather than inherent dignity.

In a time of shifting social hierarchies and emerging market economies, Hobbes sought to analyze human nature and social structures with a scientific, almost mechanistic lens. This perspective contrasts with more traditional, divinely ordained views of human value, emphasizing practical utility.

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.