A wise man should so write (though in words understood by all men) that wise men only should be able to commend him.
Interpretation
A truly wise person communicates in a way that is accessible to everyone, yet only the truly wise can fully appreciate their insights.
In this quote, Thomas Hobbes expresses the idea that while wisdom should be presented in clear and understandable language, the depth of that wisdom should be such that it can be recognized and appreciated only by those who have the capacity for deeper thought. It emphasizes the balance between accessibility and the elite understanding of profound insights.
In practice
During a lecture on philosophy, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of communicating profound thoughts simply.
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.
To ascertain the Lord's will, we ought to use scriptural means. Prayer, the word of God, and His Spirit should be united together. We should go to the Lord repeatedly in prayer, and ask Him to teach us by His Spirit through His word.
Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do. Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.
In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others.
Precepts or maxims are of great weight; and a few useful ones on hand do more to produce a happy life than the volumes we can't find.
Without cunning, there is no innovation. Without ambition, there is no accomplishment.
The value of actions lies in their timing.
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