Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.
Interpretation
The fear of the unknown drives human beings to create and adhere to belief systems.
In this quote, Thomas Hobbes suggests that the inherent fear of what we cannot see or understand, the 'invisible,' is a fundamental reason for the development of religions and belief systems. This fear motivates individuals to seek meaning and comfort in higher powers or doctrines that promise understanding and safety in the face of the unknown.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the origins of religious belief during a philosophy class.
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.
A little while, a moment of rest upon the wind, and another woman shall bear me.
A finite world can support only a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero.
The stool of repentance and the foot of the cross are the favorite positions of instructed Christians.
Poverty is not just a sad accident, but it's also a result of the fact that some people make a lot of money off low-income families and directly contribute to their poverty.
Many of us in our praying are like nasty little boys who ring front door bells and run away before anyone answers.
My social philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words: liberty, equality and fraternity. Let no one, however, say that I have borrowed by philosophy from the French Revolution. I have not. My philosophy has roots in religion and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of my Master, the Buddha.
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