"During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man"

Thomas Hobbes' quote speaks with the idea of a state of nature, which is a hypothetical state of existence in which there is no government or social structure. In this state, individuals remain in a consistent state of conflict and competition with one another, as there is no common power to keep them in check. This state of war is defined by a lack of trust and a lack of respect for the rights of others. Hobbes thought that this state of war was a natural effect of the lack of a typical power to keep individuals in check. He argued that the only method to leave this state of war was to create a government that might supply a typical power to keep individuals in check and protect their rights. This quote functions as a tip of the importance of having a government that can supply a sense of security and stability in society.