Why did Hobbes argue that people would seek peace when possible?

In Thomas Hobbes’s political theory, the drive to seek peace is rooted in rational self-interest and the fundamental human desire for self-preservation.12

In the state of nature, individuals exist in a condition of "war of every man against every man," characterized by constant competition, mistrust, and the absence of justice or industry. Hobbes argued that this state is inherently unsustainable because it leaves human life "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short," defined by a perpetual fear of violent death.123

Because individuals are rational, they recognize that this chaotic environment is contrary to their own interests. Consequently, Hobbes identified a law of nature that dictates that every person ought to endeavor toward peace whenever there is a reasonable hope of obtaining it. Seeking peace is a prudential necessity; it is the only way to escape the constant risk of destruction and secure the safety and well-being that total, unchecked liberty cannot provide. This rational pursuit of peace ultimately leads individuals to enter into a social contract to establish a sovereign authority capable of enforcing order.1423