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Cicero was a Roman philosopher from the first century BCE. Hobbes mentions Cicero multiple times in Leviathan, especially Cicero’s writings about an ancient judge who always asked criminals about the benefit of their illegal actions. Hobbes applies this same question to the unlawful actions discussed in Leviathan, especially those unlawful actions perpetrated by the Roman Catholic Church, which Hobbes maintains always benefit the Pope.
Cicero Quotes in Leviathan
The Leviathan quotes below are all either spoken by Cicero or refer to Cicero. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
But this priviledge, is allayed by another; and that is, by the priviledge of Absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man onely. And of men, those are of all most subject to it, that professe Philosophy. For it is most true that Cicero sayth of them somewhere; that there can be nothing so absurd, but may be found in the books of Philosophers. And the reason is manifest. For there is not one of them that begins his ratiocination from the Definitions, or Explications of the names they are to use; which is a method that hath been used onely in Geometry; whose Conclusions have thereby been made indisputable.
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Cicero Quotes in Leviathan
The Leviathan quotes below are all either spoken by Cicero or refer to Cicero. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
But this priviledge, is allayed by another; and that is, by the priviledge of Absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man onely. And of men, those are of all most subject to it, that professe Philosophy. For it is most true that Cicero sayth of them somewhere; that there can be nothing so absurd, but may be found in the books of Philosophers. And the reason is manifest. For there is not one of them that begins his ratiocination from the Definitions, or Explications of the names they are to use; which is a method that hath been used onely in Geometry; whose Conclusions have thereby been made indisputable.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
