GOVERNOR TO THE PRINCE HIS HIGHNESS, ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL. --- MY MOST HONOURED LORD, From the principal parts of Nature, Reason and Passion, have proceeded two kinds of learning, _mathematical_ and _dogmatical_: the former is free from controversy and dispute, because it consisteth in comparing figure and motion only; in which things, _truth_, and _the interest of men_, oppose not each other: but in the other there is nothing undisputable, because it compareth men, and meddleth with their right and profit; in which, as oft as reason is against a man, so oft will a man be against reason. And from hence it cometh, that they who have written of justice and policy in general, do all invade each other and themselves with contradictions. To reduce this doctrine to the rules and infallibility of reason, there is no way, but, first, put such principles down for a foundation, as passion, not mistrusting, may not seek to displace; and afterwards to build thereon the truth of cases in the law of nature (which hitherto have been built in the air) by degrees, till the whole have been inexpugnable. Now, my Lord, the principles fit for such a foundation, are those which heretofore I have acquainted your Lordship withal in private discourse, and which by your command I have here put into a method. To examine cases thereby between _sovereign_ and _sovereign_, or between _sovereign_ and _subject_, I leave to them that shall find leisure and encouragement thereto. For my part, I present this to your Lordship for the true and only foundation of such science. For the style, it is therefore the worse, because, whilst I was writing, I consulted more with logic than with rhetoric: but for the doctrine, it is not slightly proved; and the conclusions thereof of such nature, as, for want of them, government and peace have been nothing else, to this day, but mutual fears; and it would be an incomparable benefit to commonwealth, that every one held the opinion concerning _law_ and _policy_ here delivered. The ambition therefore of this book, in seeking by your Lordship’s countenance to insinuate itself with those whom the matter it containeth most nearly concerneth, is to be excused. For myself, I desire no greater honour than I enjoy already in your Lordship’s favour, unless it be that you would be pleased, in continuance thereof, to give me more exercise in your commands; which, as I am bound by your many great favours, I shall obey, being, My most honoured Lord, Your most humble and most obliged Servant, THOMAS HOBBES. _May 9, 1640._ IN LIBELLUM PRÆSTANTISSIMI THOMÆ HOBBII, VIRI VERE PHILOSOPHI, “DE NATURA HOMINIS.”