What did Hobbes mean by the phrase “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”?

In his masterpiece Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes used the phrase “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” to describe the quality of human life in the state of nature.12

Hobbes argued that before the establishment of civil society and government, humans existed in a hypothetical condition of total liberty and equality, driven by self-interest and competition for resources. Because there was no common power or sovereign to enforce laws or maintain order, this state inevitably devolved into a “war of all against all”.123

In this environment of constant conflict and fear of violent death, individuals could not engage in industry, commerce, or the development of culture. Life was considered:13
* Solitary: Lacking the benefits of social cooperation and community.1
* Poor: Devoid of the security necessary to accumulate property or wealth.12
* Nasty, brutish, and short: Characterized by constant aggression, the threat of violence, and a lack of longevity.13

For Hobbes, this disastrous existence provided the rational justification for individuals to enter into a social contract, surrendering their absolute liberty to a sovereign in exchange for physical safety and collective security.423