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.
We become what we think about most of the time, and that's the strangest secret.
Is it better to be extremely ambitious, or rather modest? Probably the latter is safer; but I hate safety, and would rather fail gloriously than dingily succeed.
Sometimes the best way to baffle them is to make moves that have no purpose, or even seem to work against you
Someone who is elated with wine speaks the truth on all subjects, even without meaning to. In the same way, anyone who is inebriated with the spirit of penitence will never be able to tell lies.
And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!
I could do one show after another in China for the rest of my life and still die ignorant. There's a lot of places left to go.
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