Leviathan

by Thomas Hobbes

The Twelfth, Equall Use Of Th...

And from this followeth another law, "That such things as cannot be divided, be enjoyed in Common, if it can be; and if the quantity of the thing permit, without Stint; otherwise Proportionably to the number of them that have Right." For ...

The Thirteenth...

But some things there be, that can neither be divided, nor enjoyed in common. Then, The Law of Nature, which prescribeth Equity, requireth, "That the Entire Right; or else, (making the use alternate,) the First Possession, be determined by Lot." For equall distribution, is of the...

The Fourteenth, Of Primogeniture, And...

Of Lots there be two sorts, Arbitrary, and Naturall. Arbitrary, is that which is agreed on by the Competitors; Naturall, is either Primogeniture, (which the Greek calls Kleronomia, which signifies, Given by Lot;) or First Seisure. And therefore those things which cannot be enjoyed in common, nor divided, ought to be adjud...

The Fifteenth, Of ...

It is also a Law of Nature, "That all men that mediate Peace, be a...

The Sixteenth, Of Submission To Arbitrement

therefore it is of the Law of Nature, "That they that are at controversie, submit their Right to the judgement of an Arbitrator."

Seventeenth, No Man Is His Own Judge

The Eighteenth, No Man To Be Judge, That Has In Him Cause Of Partiality

The Nineteenth, Of Witnesse

These are the Lawes of Nature, dictating Peace, for a means of the conservation of men in multitudes; and which onely concern the doctrine of Civill Society. There be other things tending to the destruction of particular men; as Drunkenness, and all other parts of

Intemperance; which may therefore also be reckoned amongst those things which the Law of Nature hath forbidden; but are not necessary to be mentioned, nor are pertinent enough to this place.

A Rule, By Which The Laws Of Nature May Eas...

"Do not that to another, which thou wouldest not have done to thy selfe;" which sheweth him, that he has no more

The Lawes Of Nature Oblige In Conscience Alwayes,

The Laws Of Nature Are Eternal;

And Yet Easie

he that endeavoureth their performance, fulfilleth them; and he that fulfilleth the Law, is Just.

The Science Of These Lawes, Is The True Morall Philosophy

These dictates of Reason, men use to call by the name of Lawes; but improperly: for they are but Conclusions, or Theoremes concerning what conduceth to the conservation and defence of themselves; whereas Law, properly is the word of him, that by right hath command over others. But yet if we consider the same Theoremes, as delivered in the word of God, that by right commandeth all things;

then are they properly called Lawes.

CHAPTER XVI. OF PERSONS, AUTHORS, AND THI...

Person Naturall, And Artificiall

The Word Person, Whence

Actor, Author; Authority

Covenants

By Authority, Bind The Author

But Not The Actor

The Authority Is To Be Shewne

Things Personated, Inanimate

Irrational

False Gods

The True God

A Multitude Of Men, How One Person

Every One Is Author

An Actor May Be Many Men Made One By Plurality Of Voyces

And if the Representative consist of many men, the voyce of the greater number, must be considered as the voyce of them all.

Representatives, When The

Number Is Even, Unprofitable

Negative Voyce

PART II. OF COMMON-WEALTH

PART II: OF COMMONWEALTH

CHAPTER XVII. OF THE CAUSES, GENERATION, AND DEFINITION OF A COMMON-WEALTH

The End Of Common-wealth, Particu...

The finall Cause, End, or Designe of men, (who naturally love Liberty, and Dominion over others,) in the introduction of that restraint upon themselves, (in which wee see...

of their own preservation, and of a more contented life thereby; that is to say, of getting themselves out from that miserable condition of Warre, which is necessarily consequent (as hath been shewn) to the naturall Passions of men, when there is no visible Power to keep them in awe, and tye them by feare of punishment to the performance of their Covenant...

Which Is Not To Be Had From The L...

For the Lawes of Nature (as Justice, Equity, Modesty, Mercy, and (in summe) Doing To Others, As Wee Would Be Done To,) if themselves, without the terrour of some Power, to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our naturall Passions, that carry us to Partiality, Pride, Revenge, and the like. And Covena...