What Did Thomas Hobbes mean?

[dothawkes]

"Men have no pleasure in keeping company, where there is no power able to over-awe them all"

[Grimalkin]

Haven't read the whole work but guess this refers to men needing a leader/god(/woman?) to order their society.

[jno]

sounds as if it means men like to be in charge, but this can't be true.

[Brugel]

Hobbes meant that unless there is a government with the power to control everyone then life won't be worth living for any individual. This is because, without a great power watching over them, men will either be in a constant state of war or in a constant state of fear of war. And that's because greed, fear of safety and lust for glory will urge them to conquer one another.

Since this is what things are like for man in a "state of nature" then submission to any powerful ruler is preferable to living without government.

[janesmythe22]

See mycatis' first 'answer' to your question re: Romeo and Juliet.

[dothawkes]

janesmythe22

get ye point pet, but this close readin of the text helped me get my English degree and it has always bugged me.  dramatic device and all that.

[janesmythe22]

Oh, well dothawkes, I was in my happy place...

[mycatis]

Hey scram janesmythe22, Dotty is my friend, I was only playing, dont interfere, thank you.
Dotty I've never heard this quote but it sounds like something I've been thinking about a lot lately, that is... I think (maybe) part of the reason that (mostly) young guys these days have so many problems is that they dont have a command stucture (for want of a better phrase) So it's hard for them to know what their place in society is. Most people would probably deny it but I think that we need to have people we respect, who we can follow. It's like a child needs boundries to feel safe.
(It's pretty much like my theory on religion, but that's a different story)
Is that the right idea, do you think?

[dothawkes]

that sounds good cat, finding the answer brings you knowledge, understanding the answer is what gives u wisdom, well done.

[janesmythe22]

Right, Otra and Winter from Cute-Town, be good girls and move over to CB for your small talk. Thanks.

[dothawkes]

No jane smythe, that was a quote from Smallville tonight so u don't keep up girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[janesmythe22]

O dothawkes, thanks, I thought it was from 'Small vile'.

[mycatis]

Er excuse me janesmythe22 I think you'll find that my post was not only relevent to the original question but also, this is Dotty's post so you could just bog off and not read it, thanks.
Hi Dotty, how are you today m'dear, *chat, chat, chat*

[smee.tracey]

janesmythe22 I suspect you will be welcomed into Chattebank with your inane postings