At several points, Hobbes uses tennis as an example to illustrate his commonwealth theory. Describing the need for good counsel, he explains that "A man that doth his businesse by the help of many and prudent Counsellours, with every one consulting apart in his proper element, does it best, as he that useth able Seconds at Tennis play, placed in their proper stations."
Yet in general Hobbes is skeptical of language (as an essentially unreliable medium), and especially figures of speech and metaphors. He explains that "the significations of almost all words, are either in themselves, or in the metaphoricall use of them, ambiguous; and may be drawn in argument, to make many senses." He blames manipulations of language for causing confusion, unrest, and even the English Civil War. For this reason, he recommends interpretations of law that focus on the intentions rather than the words used.
