How did Thomas Hobbes describe human behavior without political authority?

In his political philosophy, Thomas Hobbes described the human condition without political authority—the state of nature—as a state of constant, violent competition.12

Hobbes argued that human beings are naturally unsuited for political life, driven by self-interest and passions that magnify their own needs over those of others. Without a common power to keep them in awe, individuals exist in a "war of every man against every man," where there is no industry, commerce, or culture. Because there is no natural self-restraint and no common standard of behavior, even moderate individuals are forced to engage in preemptive aggression to ensure their own survival.341

Consequently, Hobbes famously characterized life in this state as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". He maintained that this condition is unsustainable and that individuals, motivated by the rational desire for self-preservation and peace, must enter into a social contract to transfer their right of self-government to an absolute sovereign, or Leviathan, to ensure collective security.3125