オークショット「ホッブズの著作における道徳的生」（26）法
ホッブズによると、あらゆる道徳的義務は法から生まれる。法のないところには義務もなければ、正しい行動と不正な行動の区別もない。そして本当の意味での法のあるところ、それに従うべき十分な動機も存在するならば、その法の下にある人々はそれに従うべき義務がある。（オークショット「ホッブズの著作における道徳的生」（勁草書房）、 p. 321 ） whatsoever is a law to a man, respecteth the will of another, and the declaration thereof. But a covenant is the declaration of a man’s own will. And therefore a law and a covenant differ; and though they be both obligatory, and a law obligeth no otherwise than by virtue of some covenant made by him who is subject thereunto, yet they oblige by several sorts of promises. For a covenant obligeth by promise of an action, or omission, especially named and limited; but a law bindeth by a promise of obedience in general, whereby the action to be done, or left undone, is referred to the determination of him, to whom the covenant is made. So that the difference between a covenant and a law, standeth thus: in simple covenants the action to be done, or not done, is first limited and made known, and then followeth the promise to ...