“ for no man is obliged (when the protection of the Law faileth,) not to protect himself, by the best means he can. If a man by the terrour of present death, be compelled to doe a fact against the Law, he is totally Excused; because no Law can oblige a man to abandon his own preservation. ”
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651). copy citation
| Author | Thomas Hobbes |
|---|---|
| Source | Leviathan |
| Topic | protection death |
| Date | 1651 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm |
Context
“(and he is then in the power of the enemy, when his person, or his means of living, is so,) if it be without his own fault, the Obligation of the Law ceaseth; because he must obey the enemy, or dye; and consequently such obedience is no Crime: for no man is obliged (when the protection of the Law faileth,) not to protect himself, by the best means he can.
If a man by the terrour of present death, be compelled to doe a fact against the Law, he is totally Excused; because no Law can oblige a man to abandon his own preservation. And supposing such a Law were obligatory; yet a man would reason thus, "If I doe it not, I die presently; if I doe it, I die afterwards; therefore by doing it, there is time of life gained;" Nature therefore compells him to the fact.”
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