Page "Classical liberalism" Paragraph 7

Classical liberals agreed with Thomas Hobbes that government had been created by individuals to protect themselves from one another.

They thought that individuals should be free to pursue their self-interest without control or restraint by society.

Individuals should be free to obtain work from the highest-paying employers, while the profit motive would ensure that products that people desired were produced at prices they would pay.

In a free market, both labour and capital would receive the greatest possible reward, while production would be organised efficiently to meet consumer demand.