"A wise man should so write (though in words understood by all men) that wise men only should be able to commend him"
About this Quote
Hobbes urges a writer to aim for language that any reader can grasp, yet craft arguments whose full quality only the truly discerning can rightly praise. He separates comprehension from commendation. Words should be plain, but the structure, rigor, and implications should demand trained judgment. The goal is not exclusivity through obscurity; it is inclusivity of access paired with selectivity of esteem. Anyone can follow the sentences, but only those with disciplined reason will recognize the necessity of the conclusions and the soundness of the method.
This stance suits Hobbes’s project in a turbulent 17th-century England torn by civil war, theology, and faction. He wrote in lucid English rather than scholastic Latin, defining terms and arguing with a geometric ambition. Yet his doctrines about sovereignty, religion, and human nature were bound to offend many. To write so that all can understand is to respect the public and to counter the fog of rhetoric he blamed for conflict. To write so that only the wise can commend is to court judgment from competent readers rather than chase applause from passion and prejudice.
The aphorism also hints at prudence. A writer may need to be legible to authority and citizen alike while building arguments that withstand the scrutiny of experts. Clear prose can minimize misrepresentation; deep reasoning can endure attack. Later commentators have seen in thinkers like Hobbes a double address: exoteric clarity for common understanding and esoteric depth for the few who can test premises and trace consequences. But the emphasis here is not secrecy; it is standards. Praise should be earned by the criteria of reason, coherence, and method.
For Hobbes, words are tools to discipline thought and prevent chaos. A wise writer serves the commonwealth by making truth accessible, and serves wisdom by making it demonstrably robust. Understanding may be universal; commendation must be merited.
This stance suits Hobbes’s project in a turbulent 17th-century England torn by civil war, theology, and faction. He wrote in lucid English rather than scholastic Latin, defining terms and arguing with a geometric ambition. Yet his doctrines about sovereignty, religion, and human nature were bound to offend many. To write so that all can understand is to respect the public and to counter the fog of rhetoric he blamed for conflict. To write so that only the wise can commend is to court judgment from competent readers rather than chase applause from passion and prejudice.
The aphorism also hints at prudence. A writer may need to be legible to authority and citizen alike while building arguments that withstand the scrutiny of experts. Clear prose can minimize misrepresentation; deep reasoning can endure attack. Later commentators have seen in thinkers like Hobbes a double address: exoteric clarity for common understanding and esoteric depth for the few who can test premises and trace consequences. But the emphasis here is not secrecy; it is standards. Praise should be earned by the criteria of reason, coherence, and method.
For Hobbes, words are tools to discipline thought and prevent chaos. A wise writer serves the commonwealth by making truth accessible, and serves wisdom by making it demonstrably robust. Understanding may be universal; commendation must be merited.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
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