Thomas Hobbes is best known for his greatly influential work on political philosophy. Born in 1588 in Wiltshire, England, his masterwork Leviathan established the foundation for most of Western political philosophy. He famously developed social contract theory, and controversially used it to support absolute power for the sovereign. Here you will find extracts from his greatest works. The Life Lessons series from The School of Life takes a great thinker and highlights those ideas most relevant to ordinary everyday dilemmas. These books emphasize ways in which wise voices from the past have urgently important and inspiring things to tell us. This book is introduced and edited by Hannah Dawson, Senior Lecturer in the History faculty of New College of the Humanities, London.