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The term “fancy,” as Hobbes uses it, is best understood in context with the philosophy of Aristotle. According to Aristotle, objects have an essence, or “fancy,” which sends a “visible species” to the eye, for example, or an “audible species” to the ear, and that “fancy” in turn produces some human sensation. Hobbes disagrees and argues such sensations are produced when an object—not that object’s essence or “fancy”—comes into direct contact with one of the human sense organs. Hobbes argues that Aristotle’s essences and the “fancy” of objects has led, at least in part, to the Christian belief in spirits and transubstantiation.
Fancy Quotes in Leviathan
The Leviathan quotes below are all either spoken by Fancy or refer to Fancy. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1 Quotes
Yet still the object is one thing, the image or fancy is another. So that Sense in all cases, is nothing els but originall fancy, caused (as I have said) by the pressure, that is, by the motion, of externall things upon our Eyes, Eares, and other organs thereunto ordained.
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This quote appears in the chapter about objects, motion, and the human senses, and it is significant because it reflects Hobbes’s rejection of Aristotle’s philosophies. Hobbes refers to many philosophers throughout Leviathan, both directly and indirectly, but he mentions Aristotle the most. According to Aristotle, physical objects have an essence, or “fancy,” which works on one of the five human senses to create a perception, but Hobbes disagrees. For Hobbes, an object is perceived by one of the human sense organs when that object, not its “fancy,” comes into direct contact with a sense organ. According to Hobbes, human sense Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. L
Chapter 2 Quotes
From this ignorance of how to distinguish Dreams, and other strong Fancies, from Vision and Sense, did arise the greatest part of the Religion of the Gentiles in time past, that worshipped Satyres, Fawnes, Nymphs, and the like; and now adayes the opinion that rude people have Fayries, Ghosts, and Goblins; […] And for Fayries, and walking Ghosts, the opinion of them has I think been on purpose, either taught, or not confuted, to keep in credit the use of Exorcisme, of Crosses, of holy Water, and other such inventions of Ghostly men.
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This passage, which appears in the chapter on human imagination and dreams, further underscores the influence of false philosophies. The inability “to distinguish Dreams, and other strong Fancies from Vision and Sense” is another veiled attack on Aristotle and his philosophies, which Hobbes contends are built on opinion, not fact or sound reason. Hobbes refers to ancient Romans and Greeks, like Aristotle, as “the Gentiles” of the past, who, instead of practicing Christianity, worshipped numerous gods, “Satyres, Fawnes, Nymphs, and the like.” This quote also highlights Hobbes’s disapproval of the Roman Catholic Church. Hobbes argues that the Gentiles’ religious beliefs Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque od
Chapter 12 Quotes
And in these foure things, Opinion of Ghosts, Ignorance of second cause, Devotion towards what men fear, and Taking of things Casuall for Prognostiques, consisteth the Naturall seed of Religion; which by reason of the different Fancies, Judgements, and Passions of severall men, hath grown up into ceremonies so different, that those which are used by one man, are for the most part ridiculous to another.
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This quote appears in Hobbes’s chapter on religion, and it is significant because it defines “the Naturall seed of Religion” and underscores Hobbes’s primary argument that most religious practices and scripture are rooted in the “Passions” of men, not God. The “the Naturall seed of Religion,” according to Hobbes, involves a few basic things: a belief in “Ghosts” and spirits; an ignorance of science and the natural causes of things; honor of that which is feared; and the mistaking of normal events for prophecy. Hobbes claims that religion, like absurdity, is peculiar to humans alone and is not found in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetu
Chapter 47 Quotes
To this, and such like resemblances between the Papacy, and the Kingdome of Fairies, may be added this, that as the Fairies have no existence, but in the Fancies of ignorant people, rising from the Traditions of old Wives, or old Poets: so the Spirituall Power of the Pope (without the bounds of his own Civil Dominion) consisteth onely in the Fear that Seduced people stand in, of the Excommunication; upon hearing of false Miracles, false Traditions, and false Interpretations of the Scripture.
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This quote occurs near the end of Leviathan, in the chapter on Darkness and whom it benefits, and it is significant because it highlights Hobbes’s primary argument that the Kingdome of Darkness overwhelmingly benefits the Pope in Rome. Here, Hobbes compares the Pope’s power to “the Kingdome of Fairies” that comes “from the Traditions of old Wives, or old Poets.” From Hobbes’s point of view, Catholicism and the power that the Pope claims is imaginary and exists only “in the Fancies of ignorant people.” This, obviously, is highly offensive to Catholics and those who believe in the Pope’s authority over Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi q
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Fancy Term Timeline in Leviathan
The timeline below shows where the term Fancy appears in Leviathan. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: Of Sense
...through one’s senses. “Yet still the object is one thing,” Hobbes says, “the image or fancy is another.”
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Chapter 2: Of Imagination
...“the Senses receive the Species of things,” which is delivered to the senses, to the Fancy, and to the memory, but there is very little understanding to be had in the...
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Chapter 8: Of the VERTUES commonly called INTELLECTUAL: and their contrary DEFECTS
...similarities and connections where others do not are said to have “Good Wit,” or “Good Fancy,” and their ability to discern differences and similarities is said to be “good Judgement.” Someone...
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Chapter 12: Of Religion
...dreams and is like an apparition. Such apparitions are “nothing else but creatures of the Fancy” thought to be real, and some people honor them like they would a visible body.
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