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
Desire of ease, and sensual delight, disposeth men to obey a common
power: because by such desires, a man doth abandon the protection that
might be hoped for from his own industry, and labour. [Sidenote: From
fear of death, or wounds.] Fear of death, and wounds, disposeth to the
same; and for the same reason. On the contrary, needy men, and hardy,
not contented with their present condition; as also, all men that are
ambitious of military command, are inclined to continue the causes of
war; and to stir up trouble and sedition: for there is no honour
military but by war; nor any such hope to mend an ill game, as by
causing a new shuffle.
[Sidenote: And from love of arts.]
Desire of knowledge, and arts of peace, inclineth men to obey a common
power: for such desire, containeth a desire of leisure; and consequently
protection from some other power than their own.
[Sidenote: Love of virtue from love of praise.]
Desire of praise, disposeth to laudable actions, such as please them
whose judgment they value; for of those men whom we contemn, we contemn
also the praises. Desire of fame after death does the same. And though
after death, there be no sense of the praise given us on earth, as being
joys, that are either swallowed up in the unspeakable joys of Heaven, or
extinguished in the extreme torments of hell: yet is not such fame vain;
because men have a present delight therein, from the foresight of it,
and of the benefit that may redound thereby to their posterity: which
though they now see not, yet they imagine; and anything that is pleasure
to the sense, the same also is pleasure in the imagination.
[Sidenote: Hate, from difficulty of requiting great benefits.]
To have received from one, to whom we think ourselves equal, greater
benefits than there is hope to requite, disposeth to counterfeit love;
but really secret hatred; and puts a man into the estate of a desperate
debtor, that in declining the sight of his creditor, tacitly wishes him
there, where he might never see him more. For benefits oblige, and
obligation is thraldom; and unrequitable obligation perpetual thraldom;
which is to one’s equal, hateful. But to have received benefits from
one, whom we acknowledge for superior, inclines to love; because the
obligation is no new depression: and cheerful acceptation, which men
call _gratitude_, is such an honour done to the obliger, as is taken
generally for retribution. Also to receive benefits, though from an
equal, or inferior, as long as there is hope of requital, disposeth to
love: for in the intention of the receiver, the obligation is of aid and
service mutual; from whence proceedeth an emulation of who shall exceed
in benefiting; the most noble and profitable contention possible;
wherein the victor is pleased with his victory, and the other revenged
by confessing it.
[Sidenote: And from conscience of deserving to be hated.]