Why did Hobbes believe a sovereign needed absolute authority?

Thomas Hobbes argued that a sovereign must possess absolute authority to prevent the collapse of society into a state of nature, which he famously described as a "war of all against all". In this hypothetical state, humans are driven by self-interest and competition, leading to a life that is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short".123

Because individuals in the state of nature cannot rely on promises or natural self-restraint, Hobbes believed that peace is only possible through a social contract where individuals transfer their right of self-governance to a sovereign. For this contract to be effective, the sovereign must have the absolute power to enforce agreements, punish breaches, and act as the supreme interpreter of law and scripture.1432

Hobbes witnessed the chaos of the English Civil Wars and concluded that divided sovereignty leads to instability and anarchy. By centralizing power, the sovereign provides the security necessary for civilization to exist, making absolute authority a rational and moral necessity for collective survival.1432