Nature hath made men so equall, in the faculties2 of body, and mind; as that though there bee found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or of quicker mind then another; yet when all is reckoned together, the difference between man, and man, is not so considerable, as that one man can thereupon claim to himselfe any benefit, to which another may not pretend, as well as he. For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination, or by confederacy with others, that are in the same danger with himselfe.
And as to the faculties of the mind, (setting aside the arts grounded upon words, and especially that skill of proceeding3 upon generall, and infallible rules, called Science; which very few have, and but in few things; as being not a native faculty4, born with us; nor attained5, (as Prudence6,) while we look after somewhat els,) I find yet a greater equality amongst men, than that of strength. For Prudence, is but Experience; which equall time, equally bestowes on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto. That which may perhaps make such equality incredible, is but a vain conceipt of ones owne wisdome, which almost all men think they have in a greater degree, than the Vulgar; that is, than all men but themselves, and a few others, whom by Fame, or for concurring7 with themselves, they approve. For such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty8, or more eloquent9, or more learned; Yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves: For they see their own wit at hand, and other mens at a distance. But this proveth rather that men are in that point equall, than unequall. For there is not ordinarily a greater signe of the equall distribution of any thing, than that every man is contented10 with his share.
From Equality Proceeds Diffidence
From this equality of ability, ariseth equality of hope in the attaining11 of our Ends. And therefore if any two men desire the same thing, which neverthelesse they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies; and in the way to their End, (which is principally their owne conservation, and sometimes their delectation only,) endeavour to destroy, or subdue12 one an other. And from hence it comes to passe, that where an Invader13 hath no more to feare, than an other mans single power; if one plant, sow, build, or possesse a convenient Seat, others may probably be expected to come prepared with forces united, to dispossesse, and deprive him, not only of the fruit of his labour, but also of his life, or liberty. And the Invader again is in the like danger of another.
From Diffidence Warre
And from this diffidence of one another, there is no way for any man to secure himselfe, so reasonable, as Anticipation14; that is, by force, or wiles15, to master the persons of all men he can, so long, till he see no other power great enough to endanger him: And this is no more than his own conservation requireth, and is generally allowed. Also because there be some, that taking pleasure in contemplating16 their own power in the acts of conquest, which they pursue farther than their security requires; if others, that otherwise would be glad to be at ease within modest bounds, should not by invasion increase their power, they would not be able, long time, by standing17 only on their defence, to subsist18. And by consequence, such augmentation of dominion19 over men, being necessary to a mans conservation, it ought to be allowed him.
Againe, men have no pleasure, (but on the contrary a great deale of griefe) in keeping company, where there is no power able to over-awe20 them all. For every man looketh that his companion should value him, at the same rate he sets upon himselfe: And upon all signes of contempt, or undervaluing, naturally endeavours, as far as he dares (which amongst them that have no common power, to keep them in quiet, is far enough to make them destroy each other,) to extort21 a greater value from his contemners, by dommage; and from others, by the example.
So that in the nature of man, we find three principall causes of quarrel. First, Competition; Secondly22, Diffidence; Thirdly, Glory.
The first, maketh men invade for Gain; the second, for Safety; and the third, for Reputation. The first use Violence, to make themselves Masters of other mens persons, wives, children, and cattell; the second, to defend them; the third, for trifles, as a word, a smile, a different opinion, and any other signe of undervalue, either direct in their Persons, or by reflexion in their Kindred, their Friends, their Nation, their Profession, or their Name.
Out Of Civil States,
There Is Alwayes Warre Of Every One Against Every One Hereby it is manifest, that during the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called Warre; and such a warre, as is of every man, against every man. For WARRE, consisteth not in Battell onely, or the act of fighting; but in a tract23 of time, wherein the Will to contend by Battell is sufficiently24 known: and therefore the notion of Time, is to be considered in the nature of Warre; as it is in the nature of Weather. For as the nature of Foule weather, lyeth not in a showre or two of rain; but in an inclination25 thereto of many dayes together: So the nature of War, consisteth not in actuall fighting; but in the known disposition26 thereto, during all the time there is no assurance to the contrary. All other time is PEACE.
The Incommodites Of Such A War
Whatsoever27 therefore is consequent to a time of Warre, where every man is Enemy to every man; the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and their own invention shall furnish them withall. In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious28 Building; no Instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force; no Knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary29, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.
It may seem strange to some man, that has not well weighed these things; that Nature should thus dissociate, and render men apt to invade, and destroy one another: and he may therefore, not trusting to this Inference, made from the Passions, desire perhaps to have the same confirmed by Experience. Let him therefore consider with himselfe, when taking a journey, he armes himselfe, and seeks to go well accompanied; when going to sleep, he locks his dores; when even in his house he locks his chests; and this when he knows there bee Lawes, and publike Officers, armed, to revenge all injuries shall bee done him; what opinion he has of his fellow subjects, when he rides armed; of his fellow Citizens, when he locks his dores; and of his children, and servants, when he locks his chests. Does he not there as much accuse mankind by his actions, as I do by my words? But neither of us accuse mans nature in it. 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; which till Lawes be made they cannot know: nor can any Law be made, till they have agreed upon the Person that shall make it.
It may peradventure be thought, there was never such a time, nor condition of warre as this; and I believe it was never generally so, over all the world: but there are many places, where they live so now. For the savage30 people in many places of America, except the government of small Families, the concord31 whereof dependeth on naturall lust32, have no government at all; and live at this day in that brutish manner, as I said before. Howsoever, it may be perceived what manner of life there would be, where there were no common Power to feare; by the manner of life, which men that have formerly33 lived under a peacefull government, use to degenerate34 into, in a civill Warre.
But though there had never been any time, wherein particular men were in a condition of warre one against another; yet in all times, Kings, and persons of Soveraigne authority, because of their Independency, are in continuall jealousies35, and in the state and posture36 of Gladiators; having their weapons pointing, and their eyes fixed37 on one another; that is, their Forts, Garrisons38, and Guns upon the Frontiers of their Kingdomes; and continuall Spyes upon their neighbours; which is a posture of War. But because they uphold thereby39, the Industry of their Subjects; there does not follow from it, that misery, which accompanies the Liberty of particular men.
In Such A Warre, Nothing Is Unjust
To this warre of every man against every man, this also is consequent; that nothing can be Unjust. The notions of Right and Wrong, Justice and Injustice40 have there no place. Where there is no common Power, there is no Law: where no Law, no Injustice. Force, and Fraud, are in warre the two Cardinall vertues. Justice, and Injustice are none of the Faculties neither of the Body, nor Mind. If they were, they might be in a man that were alone in the world, as well as his Senses, and Passions. They are Qualities, that relate to men in Society, not in Solitude41. It is consequent also to the same condition, that there be no Propriety42, no Dominion, no Mine and Thine distinct; but onely that to be every mans that he can get; and for so long, as he can keep it. And thus much for the ill condition, which man by meer Nature is actually placed in; though with a possibility to come out of it, consisting partly in the Passions, partly in his Reason.
The Passions That Incline Men To Peace
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 drawn43 to agreement. These Articles, are they, which otherwise are called the Lawes of Nature: whereof I shall speak more particularly, in the two following Chapters.
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1
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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2
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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3
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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5
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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7
concurring
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| 同时发生的，并发的 | |
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8
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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9
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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10
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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11
attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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12
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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13
invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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14
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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15
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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16
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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17
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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18
subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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19
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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20
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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21
extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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22
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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23
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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24
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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25
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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26
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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27
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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28
commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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29
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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30
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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31
concord
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| n.和谐；协调 | |
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32
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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33
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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34
degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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35
jealousies
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| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
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36
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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38
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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39
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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40
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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41
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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42
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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43
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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