And therefore if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies; and in the way to their End, . . . endeavour to destroy, or subdue one an other. [Hence, life in the state of nature is] . . . nasty, brutish, and short. Hobbes calls life in the state of nature “nasty, brutish, and short,” because people are powerless and weak. government is overbearing and abusive. government is powerless and useless. people must constantly fight enemies.