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Memory is the “decaying sense” of imagination. When the image of an object is retained in one’s imagination, that image begins to decay and degrade over time in one’s memory. Memory and imagination are the same thing, only they are known by different names, and multiple memories of many things is known as experience. According to Hobbes, philosophy includes only that knowledge that comes from reason, not knowledge that comes from memory, like experience and prudence.
Memory Quotes in Leviathan
The Leviathan quotes below are all either spoken by Memory or refer to Memory. 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 3 Quotes
Whatsoever we imagine, is Finite. Therefore there is no Idea, or conception of anything we call Infinite. No man can have in his mind in Image of infinite magnitude; nor conceive infinite swiftness, infinite time, or infinite force, or infinite power. When we say any thing is infinite, we signifie onely, that we are not able to conceive the ends, and bounds of the thing named; having no Conception of the thing, but of our own inability. And therefore the Name of God is used, not to make us conceive him; (for he is Incomprehensible; and his greatnesse, and power are unconceivable;) but that we many honour him. Also because whatsoever (as I said before,) we conceive, has been perceived first by sense, either all at once, or by parts; a man can have no thought, representing any thing, not subject to sense.
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This quote, which comes from the chapter on the train of human thoughts and the consequences of imagination, reflects Hobbes’s overreaching argument that God and his power are inconceivable; however, this passage also outlines Hobbes’s theory as to the limitations of imagination and sovereign power. Hobbes refers to other philosophers who contend that human imagination arises from nothing and is completely original, but Hobbes argues that all human thought and imagination must first be perceived through one of the human sense organs. It is only after an object is perceived by one’s senses and stored within their memory that said 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. Voluptat
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Memory Term Timeline in Leviathan
The timeline below shows where the term Memory appears in Leviathan. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Of Imagination
...imagination (meaning when the sense of an object begins to fade and pass) is called memory. Memory and imagination are the same thing, but they have different names and different considerations....
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...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 convoluted theories of the...
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Chapter 5: Of Reason, and Science
...is not born within each person as is the ability to sense objects and create memory, nor is reason accumulated through experience like prudence. Reason is obtained through the naming of...
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Chapter 8: Of the VERTUES commonly called INTELLECTUAL: and their contrary DEFECTS
...serious and light. When one’s thoughts have a specific purpose and contain much experience and memory, this is known as prudence, and prudence applied to unjust ends is called craft.
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Chapter 9: Of the Severall Subjects of Knowledge
...The first kind is “Knowledge of Fact,” which is absolute and nothing but sense and memory. In the case of knowledge of fact (the kind of knowledge expected in a witness),...
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Chapter 26: Of CIVILL LAWES
...fear, hate, love, anger). A “good” judge has patience to listen, interest to hear, and memory to retain facts.
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Chapter 46: Of DARKNESS from VAIN PHILOSOPHY, and FABULOUS TRADITIONS
...does not include knowledge that comes from experience or prudence, as such knowledge comes from memory not reason. A false conclusion is not philosophy, nor is any supernatural revelation. Philosophy is...
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