Background Image
The world is governed by opinion.
-Thomas Hobbes
Please Wait....
Translating....

The World Is Governed By Opinion.

Thomas Hobbes
The world is governed by opinion.
Views: 1
Cite this Page
Prevent plagiarism by providing proper attribution.
APA FORMAT
Embed this Quote
Copy this HTML code to embed the quote on your website or blog.
HTML CODE
Topic
Politics World Opinion

More From Thomas Hobbes

In a society in which there is no law, and in theory no compulsion, the only arbiter of behaviour is public opinion. but public opinion, because of the tremendous urge to conformity in gregarious animals, is less tolerant than any system of law. when human beings are governed by "thou shalt not", the individual can practise a certain amount of eccentricity: when they are supposedly governed by "love" or "reason", he is under continuous pressure to make him behave and think in exactly the same way as everyone else.
Thinking Animal Law
Men are not governed by justice, but by law or persuasion. when they refuse to be governed by law or persuasion, they have to be governed by force or fraud, or both.
Men Law Justice
Force and not opinion is the queen of the world; but it is opinion that uses the force. [fr., la force est la reine du monde, et non pas l'opinion; mais l'opinion est celle qui use de la force.]
Queens Use World
The 'public' is a phantom, the phantom of an opinion supposed to exist in a vast number of persons who have no effective interrelation and though the opinion is not effectively present in the units. such an opinion is spoken of as 'public opinion,' a fiction which is appealed to by individuals and by groups as supporting their special views. it is impalpable, illusory, transient; "'tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone"; a nullity which can nevertheless for a moment endow the multitude with power to uplift or destroy.
Uplifting Views Numbers
Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons. and why subject it to coercion? to produce uniformity. but is uniformity of opinion desirable? no more than of face and stature.
Religious Passion Men
And to say that society ought to be governed by the opinion of the wisest and best, though true, is useless. whose opinion is to decide who are the wisest and best?
Government Liberty Useless
Similar Quotes
No similar quotes found.

Trending Author

Paul Goodman
Paul Goodman
Marge Piercy
Marge Piercy
Patrick Rothfuss
Patrick Rothfuss
David Crystal
David Crystal
Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley
Claire Messud
Claire Messud
Category
Information
Inspirational
Philosophy
Personal Growth
Happiness & Joy
Life Lessons
Success & Business
Motivation