A Liberal Reading of Hobbes

"The liberal interpretation of Hobbes begins from his theory of the sovereign as the representative of the citizens. Hobbes described the relationship in Leviathan as follows: the prospective citizens in the state of nature

'appoint one Man, or Assembly of men, to beare their Person; and

every one to owne, and acknowledge himselfe to be Authour of

whatsoever he that so beareth their Person, shall Act, or cause to

be Acted, in those things, which concerne the Common Peace and

Safetie; and therein to submit their Wills, every one to his Will,

and their Judgements, to his Judgement. (p. 120)

In this passage, Hobbes deliberately used the language which was commonly used also by those theorists who wanted to limit the powers of sovereigns, or even to introduce quasi-republican government."

Richard Tuck, "Introduction" to Hobbes, Leviathan (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002), p. xxxv.