Q0244
“During the time men live without a common Power to keep them…” — Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan XIII)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Leviathan XIII. Theme: power.
English
During the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called War.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Leviathan XIII and files it under Social Contract Theory. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was the English philosopher of absolutist sovereignty and mechanistic psychology, author of Leviathan (1651). Tutor and associate of aristocratic families, he weathered Civil War exile in Paris and scientific debate with Boyle’s circle.
How to read this passage
Philosophers analyze domination, authority, freedom, and the micro-politics of everyday life. Power can enable justice or crush it. This passage enters that discussion through power, order.
Concepts in this quote
- Power
- Power is the capacity to affect others and to shape what counts as possible—central to politics and ethics.
- Order
- Order names cosmos, ritual, law, and the patterned stability that makes shared life possible—or oppressive.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Thomas Hobbes. (n.d.). During the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called War. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0244
MLA: Thomas Hobbes. “During the time men live without a common….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0244.
Chicago: Thomas Hobbes. “During the time men live without a common….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0244.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “During the time men live without a common…”?
The passage is attributed to Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan XIII. The archive attributes this English wording to Leviathan XIII and files it under Social Contract Theory. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Thomas Hobbes mean by power?
Philosophers analyze domination, authority, freedom, and the micro-politics of everyday life. Power can enable justice or crush it. This passage enters that discussion through power, order.