"The disembodied spirit is immortal; there is nothing of it that can grow old or die. But the embodied spirit sees death on the horizon as soon as its day dawns"

Thomas Hobbes' quote explores the philosophical dichotomy between the immortal nature of the disembodied spirit and the mortal coil of the embodied one. The "disembodied spirit" symbolizes a type of presence or consciousness that is free from the physical constraints and decay associated with a corporeal kind. In many philosophical and spiritual traditions, the spirit is deemed timeless and eternal, unblemished by the wear and tears. For that reason, Hobbes explains it as "immortal", emphasizing that it does not age or die. This concept resonates with the belief in a soul or essence that goes beyond physical presence, suggesting a continuity beyond temporal life.

Contrastingly, the "embodied spirit" refers to the human experience, where spirit or consciousness inhabits a physique. Hobbes acknowledges the short-term nature of this condition, where the inevitability of death looms from the very beginning. The phrase "sees death on the horizon as quickly as its day dawns" poetically catches the limited nature of life. From the minute of birth (the dawn of day), living beings are set on an irreparable path toward death. This interpretation speaks to the inherent temporality of life and the certainty of its end.

The juxtaposition in this quote may also show Hobbes' broader philosophical views on life and presence. He often checked out the materialistic aspects of human life and the implications of death. By contrasting the timelessness of a disembodied spirit with the finite reality of embodied life, Hobbes prompts reflection on the human condition: a presence that is continuously familiar with its restrictions, yet possibly linked to something everlasting.

Eventually, this quote invites readers to contemplate the duality of existence-- a dance in between the never-ceasing essence and the mortal journey, prompting an appreciation of life's short lived appeal along with an acknowledgment of the eternal.