Thomas Hobbes believed that in a state of nature without a sovereign power, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to a perpetual war of all against all. Hobbes argued people consent to absolute sovereignty for protection. John Locke believed people have natural rights in a state of nature governed by reason and natural law. Locke argued for separation of legislative and executive powers to prevent tyranny and protect individual rights and property.