Why did Hobbes think people would trade liberty for security?

Thomas Hobbes argued that individuals would trade their liberty for security because the alternative—the state of nature—is a condition of constant, violent competition and "war of every man against every man."12

In this natural state, there is no common authority to enforce laws or resolve disputes. Because humans are driven by self-interest and passions, they naturally compete for wealth, security, and glory, leading to a life that is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Even moderate individuals are forced into preemptive aggression to ensure their own survival, as they cannot trust others to exercise self-restraint.134

Hobbes maintained that it is rational for individuals to seek peace to avoid the constant fear of violent death. Through a social contract, people collectively agree to relinquish their absolute liberty and transfer their right of self-government to a sovereign (the Leviathan). This sovereign is empowered to enforce the contract, maintain order, and provide the physical safety that individuals cannot secure on their own.132