# XIX: Of the Several Kinds of Commonwealth by Institution, and of Succession to the Sovereign Power explained — Leviathan > Chapter companion for Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes. ## What happens Hobbes delineates the three forms of commonwealth—monarchy, democracy, and aristocracy—based on who holds sovereign power. He argues that other names like tyranny or oligarchy are merely pejorative labels for these same forms. He compares the conveniences of each, defending monarchy against common objections, and discusses the necessity of orderly succession to prevent a return to the state of war. ## Themes in this chapter ### Sovereignty and Absolute Power Hobbes argues that sovereignty is indivisible and entire, and that any limitation on a king's power implies the sovereignty lies elsewhere, as in the Spartan Ephori. ### Liberty and Obligation Discusses how subjects in absolute liberty may choose to subject themselves to a monarch or assembly, and the obligations that arise from the institution of commonwealth. ### Human Nature and Passions Observes that the passions of men are commonly more potent than their reason, leading sovereigns to prefer private good over public interest. ## Key lines > For they that are discontented under 'monarchy,' call it 'tyranny'; and they that are displeased with 'aristocracy,' call it 'oligarchy': so also they which find themselves grieved under a 'democracy,' call it 'anarchy,' which signifies want of government; and yet I think no man believes that want of government is any new kind of government. People who are unhappy with a monarchy label it tyranny, those dissatisfied with aristocracy call it oligarchy, and those grieved by democracy call it anarchy—but anarchy is not a new form of government, merely the absence of one. _Hobbes dismisses alternative names for government forms as mere expressions of discontent._ > For the passions of men are commonly more potent than their reason. From whence it follows, that where the public and the private interest are most closely united, there is the public most advanced. Because human passions usually overpower reason, the public good is best served where the ruler's private interest aligns most closely with the public interest. _Hobbes argues that monarchy aligns private and public interest better than other forms._ > There is no perfect form of government where the disposing of the succession is not in the present sovereign. A government is not fully formed unless the current sovereign has the authority to determine the succession. _Hobbes emphasizes that the right to appoint a successor is essential to prevent dissolution of the commonwealth._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xix-of-the-several-kinds-of-commonwealth-by-institution-and-of-succession-to-the-sovereign-power - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leviathan_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leviathan_se/chapters