To be seduced by Orators, as a Monarch by Flatterers.
Interpretation
This quote warns about the dangers of being swayed by persuasive speakers, similar to how a monarch can be misled by flatterers.
Thomas Hobbes' quote emphasizes the susceptibility of individuals, particularly those in power, to be influenced by eloquent speakers who may not have their best interests at heart. Just as a monarch can fall prey to flattering compliments that distort reality, people can be easily seduced by the charm and rhetoric of orators, leading to misguided decisions and a lack of critical thinking.
In practice
In a speech about the dangers of misinformation, a politician might reference this quote to highlight the importance of critical thinking.
Baptism is the sacrament of allegiance of them that are to be received into the Kingdom of God, that is to say, into Eternal life, that is to say, to Remission of Sin. For as Eternal life was lost by the committing, so it is recovered by the remitting of men's sins.
Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.
For it is not the shape, but their use, that makes them angels.
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
Scientia potentia est, sed parva; quia scientia egregia rara est, nec proinde apparens nisi paucissimis, et in paucis rebus. Scientiae enim ea natura est, ut esse intelligi non possit, nisi ab illis qui sunt scientia praediti.
The end of knowledge is power ... the scope of all speculation is the performing of some action or thing to be done.
What is adequacy? Adequacy is no standard at all.
You are in integrity when the life you are living on the outside matches who you are on the inside.
The source of anxiety lies in the future. If you can keep the future out of mind, you can forget your worries.
It is our responsibility to learn to become emotionally intelligent. These are skills, they’re not easy, nature didn’t give them to us - we have to learn them.
There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.
We should reward people, not ridicule them, for thinking the impossible.
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