How did Thomas Hobbes describe human motivations?

Thomas Hobbes described human motivation through the lens of psychological hedonism, asserting that all voluntary human actions are fundamentally driven by the pursuit of pleasure or the desire for self-preservation.1

In his view, humans are inherently self-interested, competitive, and driven by passions that magnify the value they place on their own interests, particularly those in the near term. Because individuals naturally seek to satisfy their own appetites and desires, they exist in a state of constant competition for wealth, security, and glory. Hobbes argued that this nature makes humans unsuited for political life, as they lack natural self-restraint and are prone to aggression, especially when they perceive a threat to their survival.12

This self-interested motivation leads to a "war of every man against every man" in the state of nature, where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". Consequently, Hobbes believed that rational individuals, fearing violent death, are motivated to enter a social contract to establish a sovereign authority that can enforce peace and ensure safety.132