The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
Pride, subjecteth a man to anger, the excess whereof, is the madness
called RAGE and FURY. And thus it comes to pass that excessive desire of
revenge, when it becomes habitual, hurteth the organs, and becomes rage:
that excessive love, with jealousy, becomes also rage: excessive opinion
of a man’s own self, for divine inspiration, for wisdom, learning, form
and the like, becomes distraction and giddiness: the same, joined with
envy, rage: vehement opinion of the truth of anything, contradicted by
others, rage.
[Sidenote: Melancholy.]
Dejection subjects a man to causeless fears; which is a madness,
commonly called MELANCHOLY; apparent also in divers manners as in
haunting of solitudes and graves; in superstitious behaviour; and in
fearing, some one, some another particular thing. In sum, all passions
that produce strange and unusual behaviour, are called by the general
name of madness. But of the several kinds of madness, he that would take
the pains, might enrol a legion. [Sidenote: Madness.] And if the
excesses be madness, there is no doubt but the passions themselves, when
they tend to evil, are degrees of the same.
For example, though the effect of folly, in them that are possessed of
an opinion of being inspired, be not visible always in one man, by any
very extravagant action, that proceedeth from such passion; yet, when
many of them conspire together, the rage of the whole multitude is
visible enough. For what argument of madness can there be greater, than
to clamour, strike, and throw stones at our best friends? Yet this is
somewhat less than such a multitude will do. For they will clamour,
fight against, and destroy those, by whom all their lifetime before,
they have been protected, and secured from injury. And if this be
madness in the multitude, it is the same in every particular man. For as
in the midst of the sea, though a man perceive no sound of that part of
the water next him, yet he is well assured, that part contributes as
much to the roaring of the sea, as any other part of the same quantity;
so also, though we perceive no great unquietness in one or two men, yet
we may be well assured, that their singular passions, are parts of the
seditious roaring of a troubled nation. And if there were nothing else
that bewrayed their madness; yet that very arrogating such inspiration
to themselves, is argument enough. If some man in Bedlam should
entertain you with sober discourse; and you desire in taking leave, to
know what he were, that you might another time requite his civility; and
he should tell you, he were God the Father; I think you need expect no
extravagant action for argument of his madness.