- Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan inspired the "Unalienable rights" outlined in the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan or the Matter Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiastical and Civil, written in 1651, became one of the most influential written masterpieces on politics and philosophy in the history of humankind. His ideas about the fundamental rights of individuals and the need of a Social Contract (laws and regulations) for a society to thrive were deeply influential in the writing of the Declaration of independence as well of the Constitution.
It is interesting to note that not all of Hobbes's beliefs were agreed upon by the Founding Fathers, for example, his belief in government with absolute power over individuals. Nevertheless, his ideas were complemented along with John Locke's ideas regarding unalienable rights (Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) and limited government.
- Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was referring to an individual's right to freedom in relation to others when he said: "The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”
This quote refers to the fact that we are, of course, free as individuals within our social structure, but we must not forget that this doesn't give us the right to damage the other or threaten their liberty. This is known as the demarcation of liberties.
