Thomas Hobbes — "The power of a man, (to take it universally,) is his present means, to obtain so…"

"For such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves."

"The right of nature ... is the liberty each man hath, to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his own life; and consequently, of doing any …"

"The source of all felicity and unhappiness, is the love of ourselves."

"The power of the mighty hath no foundation but in the opinion and belief of the people."

"The desires, and other passions of man, are in themselves no sin. No more are the actions that proceed from those passions, till they know a law that forbids them."