Passions Analysis in Leviathan

Passions are the emotions of human beings. Different people feel different passions, and different passions come from different experiences and different levels of education. Too much passion is known as madness, and passions that predispose people to peace include the fear of death, the desire for things that are necessary for life (like food and shelter), and the hope to obtain such vital necessities.

Passions Quotes in Leviathan

The Leviathan quotes below are all either spoken by Passions or refer to Passions. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon

And therefore the voluntary actions, and inclinations of all men, tend, not only to the procuring, but also to the assuring of a contented life; and differ onely in the way: which ariseth partly from the diversity of passions, in divers men; and partly from the difference of the knowledge, or opinion each one has of the causes, which produce the effect desired.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 161

Explanation and Analysis:

And in these foure things, Opinion of Ghosts, Ignorance of second cause, Devotion towards what men fear, and Taking of things Casuall for Prognostiques, consisteth the Naturall seed of Religion; which by reason of the different Fancies, Judgements, and Passions of severall men, hath grown up into ceremonies so different, that those which are used by one man, are for the most part ridiculous to another.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 172-173

Explanation and Analysis:

But where God himselfe, by supernaturall Revelation, planted Religion; there he also made to himself a peculiar Kindgome; and gave Lawes, not only of behavior towards himself; but also towards one another; and thereby in the Kingdome of God, the Policy, and lawes Civill, are a part of Religion; and therefore the distinction of Temporall, and Spirituall Domination, hath there no place. It is true, that God is King of all the Earth; Yet may he be King of a peculiar, and chosen Nation.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 178

Explanation and Analysis:

The Passions that encline men to Peace, are Feare of Death; Desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a Hope by their Industry to obtain them. And Reason suggesteth convenient Articles of Peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement. These Articles, are they, which otherwise are called the Lawes of Nature: whereof I shall speak of more particularly, in the two following chapters.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 188

Explanation and Analysis:

Passions Term Timeline in Leviathan

The timeline below shows where the term Passions appears in Leviathan. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...of Men,” and “Nosce teipsum, Read thy self.” Adages such as these teach others that passions and thoughts are common to all of humankind and that everyone thinks, reasons, hopes, and... (full context)

Hobbes goes on to define several other passions, including joy, pain, grief, anger, confidence, and kindness. He also defines curiosity, which is the... (full context)

...as good is known as praise, and that is all Hobbes has to say about passions and how they are expressed. (full context)

...slow, it is known as “stupidity,” and these discrepancies in wit are caused by individual passions. (full context)

...correct use of speech and definitions and produces science. Different wits are caused by different passions, and from different passions come different bodies and different levels of education. These different passions... (full context)

...certain defects of the mind, including giddiness, madness, rage, and melancholy. Madness is too much passion that can be brought about by too much alcohol, and, according to some, madness and... (full context)

...on obtaining that which will make their life content. These actions differ only in the passions they arise from and the knowledge and opinions that produce each passion. (full context)

The desires and passions that produce such savagery in people is in itself no sin, nor are the actions... (full context)

Passions that predispose people to peace include the fear of death, the desire for things that... (full context)

...A “good” judge must have “Contempt of unnecessary Riches,” and they must be free of passions (no fear, hate, love, anger). A “good” judge has patience to listen, interest to hear,... (full context)

...wrong inferences from principles taught to them by true teachers. Crime is also caused by passions—lust, ambition, love, and hate—but rarely by fear. (full context)

...a crime is excused. A crime that comes from a sudden and unexpected rise in passions is not as great as a crime that is premediated, and crimes against the common-wealth... (full context)

...Furthermore, this honor must be expressed through outward signs known as worship. Honor comes from passions such as love, hope, and fear, and worship comes in the form of praise and... (full context)

...Spirit of God?” And the spirit of God is also said in scripture to affect passions, as it does to Saul in the Book of Judges. “The Spirit of God came... (full context)

...of lines and shapes. The moral philosophy of the Athenians, however, was but “their own Passions,” and their logic was nothing but “Captions of Words.” The most absurd examples of ancient... (full context)

...center of the Earth, as if an object made of stone or metal can have passions and a favorite place of rest. (full context)

Passions Term Analysis

Passions Quotes in Leviathan

Passions Term Timeline in Leviathan