John Locke Quotes:

Our incomes are like our shoes; if too small, they gall and pinch us; but if too large, they cause us to stumble and to trip.

Topics: Funny, Money, Shoes, Pinching

Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.

Topics: Inspirational, Motivational, Education, Learning To Read, Knowledge And Learning

What worries you, masters you.

Topics: Inspirational, Life, Courage

As people are walking all the time, in the same spot, a path appears.

Topics: Inspirational, Philosophical, Walking Away, Enlightenment Thinkers

There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men.

Topics: Children, Philosophical, Men

New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.

Topics: Business, War, Creativity, Conformist, Questioning Beliefs

I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.

source: - John Locke (1825). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author”, p.45

Topics: Motivational, Honesty, Integrity, Interpreter, Words And Actions

It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.

Topics: Teaching, Easier, Command, Tutor

To love our neighbor as ourselves is such a truth for regulating human society, that by that alone one might determine all the cases in social morality.

Topics: Love, Pregnancy, Might, Neighbor Love

Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.

source: - John Locke, John W. Yolton (1977). “The Locke Reader: Selections from the Works of John Locke with a General Introduction and Commentary”, p.289, CUP Archive

Topics: Self Esteem, Philosophical, Men, Individual Rights, Private Property

All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.191

Topics: Peace, War, Independent, Individual Rights, Liberty And Equality

The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.234

Topics: Freedom, Law, Ends

Where there is no property there is no injustice.

Topics: Philosophical, Justice, Injustice

How long have you been holding those words in your head, hoping to use them?

Topics: Long, Use

The discipline of desire is the background of character.

Topics: Philosophical, Character, Discipline

The improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others.

Topics: Education, Knowledge, Two

No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience.

Topics: Philosophical, Knowledge, Science, Knowledge Experience, General Knowledge

Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.

Topics: Philosophical, Government, Ends

All wealth is the product of labor.

Topics: Philosophical, Wealth, Prosperity, Fruit Of Labor

To prejudge other men's notions before we have looked into them is not to show their darkness but to put out our own eyes.

Topics: Eye, Men, Darkness

It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean.

Topics: Ocean, Serendipity, Sailor, Fathom

The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author; salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure.

Topics: Children, Men, Blessing, Children Of Men, Greatest Blessings

Where all is but dream, reasoning and arguments are of no use, truth and knowledge nothing.

Topics: Dream, Philosophical, Use, Dreams And Aspirations, Truth And Knowledge

All men are liable to error; and most men are, in many points, by passion or interest, under temptation to it.

Topics: War, Passion, Men

Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.

Topics: Fashion, Philosophical, Riches, Ostentation

Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.

Topics: Philosophical, Parenting, Bitterness, Water Fountain, Parents Love

An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable; A villain, like the beams of a balance, is always varying, upwards and downwards.

Topics: Integrity, Men, Balance, Precious Metal

Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him.

source: - "The Book-Lover's Enchiridion" by Alexander Ireland, (p. 94), 1884.

Topics: Inspirational, Education, Reading, Reflecting, Good Food Good Company

We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the color of our moral character, from those who are around us.

Topics: Character, Color, Hue

Our Business here is not to know all things, but those which concern our conduct.

Topics: Concern

Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues.

Topics: Philosophical, Support, Fortitude, Intestinal Fortitude

Revolt is the right of the people

Topics: People, Revolt

To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.

Topics: Truth, Honesty, Perfection, Truth Love

One unerring mark of the love of truth is not entertaining any proposition with greater assurance than the proofs it is built upon will warrant.

Topics: Love, Truth, Science

We should have a great fewer disputes in the world if words were taken for what they are, the signs of our ideas only, and not for things themselves.

Topics: Inspirational, Philosophical, Taken

Reverie is when ideas float in our mind without reflection or regard of the understanding.

Topics: Dream, Philosophical, Reflection

A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this World: he that has these two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be little the better for anything else.

Topics: Happiness, Two, Mind, Sound Mind, Sound Body

The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property.

Topics: Men, Reason, Preservation, Property Rights, Private Property

The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.

Topics: Education, Wisdom, Philosophical, Thorough Knowledge, Thorough Understanding

I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information, and to my rule of conversing with all descriptions of men on those topics that form their own peculiar professions and pursuits.

Topics: Men, Littles, Information

If any one shall claim a power to lay and levy taxes on the people by his own authority and without such consent of the people, he thereby invades the fundamental law of property, and subverts the end of government.

Topics: Government, Law, People

Whosoever will list himself under the banner of Christ, must, in the first place and above all things, make war upon his own lusts and vices. It is in vain for any man to usurp the name of Christian, without holiness of life, purity of manners, benignity and meekness of spirit.

Topics: Christian, War, Men

Success in fighting means not coming at your opponent the way he wants to fight you.

Topics: Mean, Fighting, Opponents

The great question which, in all ages, has disturbed mankind, and brought on them the greatest part of their mischiefs ... has been, not whether be power in the world, nor whence it came, but who should have it.

Topics: Age, World, Should

The business of education is not to make the young perfect in any one of the sciences, but so to open and dispose their minds as may best make them - capable of any, when they shall apply themselves to it.

Topics: Teaching, Learning, Technology

Not time is the measure of movement but: ...each constant periodic appearance of ideas.

Topics: Ideas, Movement, Time Management

For where is the man that has incontestable evidence of the truth of all that he holds, or of the falsehood of all he condemns; or can say that he has examined to the bottom all his own, or other men's opinions? The necessity of believing without knowledge, nay often upon very slight grounds, in this fleeting state of action and blindness we are in, should make us more busy and careful to inform ourselves than constrain others.

Topics: Believe, Men, Fleeting

The acts of the mind, wherein it exerts its power over simple ideas, are chiefly these three: 1. Combining several simple ideas into one compound one, and thus all complex ideas are made. 2. The second is bringing two ideas, whether simple or complex, together, and setting them by one another so as to take a view of them at once, without uniting them into one, by which it gets all its ideas of relations. 3. The third is separating them from all other ideas that accompany them in their real existence: this is called abstraction, and thus all its general ideas are made.

Topics: Real, Simple, Views, Simple Ideas

So that, in effect, religion, which should most distinguish us from beasts, and ought most peculiarly to elevate us, as rational creatures, above brutes, is that wherein men often appear most irrational, and more senseless than beasts themselves.

Topics: Men, Beast, Should

I have spent more than half a lifetime trying to express the tragic moment.

Topics: Trying, Half, Moments

Any one reflecting upon the thought he has of the delight, which any present or absent thing is apt to produce in him, has the idea we call love.

Topics: Ideas, Delight, Produce, Reflecting Upon

Things of this world are in so constant a flux, that nothing remains long in the same state.

Topics: Philosophical, Long, World

It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.

Topics: Education, Truth, Philosophical

There cannot be greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse.

Topics: Communication, Rude, Currents

The dread of evil is a much more forcible principle of human actions than the prospect of good.

Topics: Philosophical, Evil, Perspective, Good Against Evil

Our deeds disguise us. People need endless time to try on their deeds, until each knows the proper deeds for him to do. But every day, every hour, rushes by. There is no time.

Topics: People, Trying, Needs, Endless Time

All men by nature are equal in that equal right that every man hath to his natural freedom, without being subjected to the will or authority of any other man; being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

Topics: Independent, Equality, Men

I have no reason to suppose that he, who would take away my Liberty, would not when he had me in his Power, take away everything else.

source: - John Locke, David Wootton (1993). “Locke: Political Writings”, p.270, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Second Amendment, Liberty, Reason

The most precious of all possessions is power over ourselves.

Topics: Discipline, Self Discipline, Possession

Who lies for you will lie against you.

Topics: Truth, Honesty, Lying, Lies Truth, Dishonesty And Lying

Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.

source: - John Locke (1947). “Two Treatises of Government: With a Supplement, Patriarcha, by Robert Filmer”, p.233, Simon and Schuster

Topics: Freedom, War, People, Limited Freedom, Legislators

Wherever Law ends, Tyranny begins.

source: - Second Treatise of Civil Government ch. 18, sec. 202 (1690)

Topics: Law, Ends, Tyranny, Personal Liberty

Don't let the things you don't have prevent you from using what you do have.

Any single man must judge for himself whether circumstances warrant obedience or resistance to the commands of the civil magistrate; we are all qualified, entitled, and morally obliged to evaluate the conduct of our rulers. This political judgment, moreover, is not simply or primarily a right, but like self-preservation, a duty to God. As such it is a judgment that men cannot part with according to the God of Nature. It is the first and foremost of our inalienable rights without which we can preserve no other.

Topics: Wisdom, Gun, Men, Inalienable Rights, Duty To God

Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.234

Topics: Liberty, Violence, Restraint

The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.

Topics: Government, Libertarian Party, People, Limited Freedom, Unlawful

The visible mark of extraordinary wisdom and power appear so plainly in all the works of creation.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.40

Topics: Power, Creation, Mark

There are a thousand ways to Wealth, but only one way to Heaven.

source: - John Locke (2012). “The Second Treatise of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.153, Courier Corporation

Topics: Heaven, Way, Wealth

With books we stand on the shoulders of giants.

Topics: Book, Giants, Language

Where there is no law there is no freedom.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.234

Topics: Freedom, Law, Liberty, Abolish

Reason must be our last judge and guide in everything.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.538

Topics: Judging, Lasts, Reason

[Individuals] have a right to defend themselves and recover by force what by unlawful force is taken from them.

source: - John Locke (2016). “Second Treatise of Government and a Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.103, Oxford University Press

Topics: Taken, Individual, Unlawful

Nothing is in the intellect that was not first in the senses.

Topics: Firsts, Intellect, Senses

The great art to learn much is to undertake a little at a time.

Topics: Art, Littles, Great Art

Whoever uses force without Right ... puts himself into a state of War with those, against whom he uses it, and in that state all former Ties are canceled, all other Rights cease, and every one has a Right to defend himself, and to resist the Aggressor.

source: - John Locke (2012). “The Second Treatise of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.126, Courier Corporation

Topics: War, Rights, Ties, Aggressors

The least and most imperceptible impressions received in our infancy have consequences very important and of long duration.

Topics: Long, Important, Duration

Knowledge is grateful to the understanding, as light to the eyes.

source: - John Locke (1778). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education”, p.178

Topics: Grateful, Eye, Light

Men in great place are thrice servants; servants of the sovereign state, servants of fame, and servants of business; so as they have no freedom, neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in their times. It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.

source: - John Locke (1813). “The Conduct of the Understanding: With Sketches of the Lives of Locke and Bacon”, p.128

Topics: Men, Self, Liberty, Power Over Others

The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have.

source: - John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: In Nine Volumes”, p.317

Topics: Thinking, Ideas, Mind, Thoughts And Thinking

There are two sides, two players. One is light, the other is dark.

Topics: Dark, Player, Light

Freedom of men under government is to have a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society and made by the legislative power vested in it and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, arbitrary will of another man.

source: - 1681 Second Treatise on Civil Government (published anonymously1690).

Topics: Men, Rules To Live By, Liberty

Who are we to tell anyone what they can or can't do?

It is practice alone that brings the powers of the mind, as well as those of the body, to their perfection.

source: - John Locke (1813). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.300

Topics: Practice, Perfection, Mind, Power Of The Mind

Tis a Mistake to think this Fault [tyranny] is proper only to Monarchies; other Forms of Government are liable to it, as well as that. For where-ever the Power that is put in any hands for the Government of the People, and the Preservation of their Properties, is applied to other ends, and made use of to impoverish, harass, or subdue them to the Arbitrary and Irregular Commands of those that have it: There it presently becomes Tyranny, whether those that thus use it are one or many.

source: - John Locke, Peter Laslett (1988). “Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition”, p.400, Cambridge University Press

Topics: Mistake, Thinking, Hands

Curiosity in children, is but an appetite for knowledge. The great reason why children abandon themselves wholly to silly pursuits and trifle away their time insipidly is, because they find their curiosity balked, and their inquiries neglected.

Topics: Children, Silly, Curiosity

What if everything that happened here, happened for a reason?

Topics: Faith, Inspiration, What If

Men's happiness or misery is [for the] most part of their own making.

Topics: Men, Misery

The mind is furnished with ideas by experience alone

Topics: Philosophy, Philosophical, Ideas

It is one thing to persuade, another to command; one thing to press with arguments, another with penalties.

source: - John Locke (1867). “Letters on Toleration”, p.7

Topics: Argument, Penalties, Command

Firmness or stiffness of the mind is not from adherence to truth, but submission to prejudice.

source: - John Locke (1828). “An essay concerning human understanding ... The twentieth edition, etc”, p.560

Topics: Mind, Adherence, Prejudice, Stiffness

He that uses his words loosely and unsteadily will either not be minded or not understood.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.371

Topics: Use, Understood

The improvement of the understanding is for two ends; first, for our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver and make out that knowledge to others.

source: - "The works of John Locke. To which is added the life of the author and a collection of several of his pieces, publ. by mr. Desmaizeaux".

Topics: Education, Knowledge, Two, Understanding Others

But there is only one thing which gathers people into seditious commotion, and that is oppression

source: - John Locke (1956). “The Second Treatise of Government: And, A Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.147, Courier Corporation

Topics: People, Oppression, One Thing

God, when he makes the prophet, does not unmake the man.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.537

Topics: Men, Doe, He Man

A father would do well, as his son grows up, and is capable of it, to talk familiarly with him; nay, ask his advice, and consult with him about those things wherein he has any knowledge or understanding. By this, the father will gain two things, both of great moment. The sooner you treat him as a man, the sooner he will begin to be one; and if you admit him into serious discourses sometimes with you, you will insensibly raise his mind above the usual amusements of youth, and those trifling occupations which it is commonly wasted in.

source: - "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" by John Locke, (Sec. 95), 1693.

Topics: Growing Up, Father, Son

All the entertainment and talk of history is nothing almost but fighting and killing: and the honour and renown that is bestowed on conquerors (who for the most part are but the great butchers of mankind) farther mislead growing youth, who by this means come to think slaughter the laudable business of mankind, and the most heroic of virtues.

source: - John Locke (1752). “Some Thoughts concerning Education ... The eleventh edition”, p.174

Topics: War, Mean, Fighting

Logic is the anatomy of thought.

Topics: Education, Knowledge, Math

A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.

source: - 1693 Some Thoughts Concerning Education, opening words. See Juvenal 453:20.

Topics: Happiness, Get Well, Health, Sound Mind, Mind Body And Soul

Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge.

Topics: Children, Curiosity, Appetite

When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.3

Topics: Inspirational, Inspirational Success, Hope Of Success

Every man carries about him a touchstone, if he will make use of it, to distinguish substantial gold from superficial glitterings, truth from appearances. And indeed the use and benefit of this touchstone, which is natural reason, is spoiled and lost only by assuming prejudices, overweening presumption, and narrowing our minds.

source: - John Locke (1819). “An essay concerning human understanding. Also, extr. from the author's works, i. Analysis of mr. Locke's doctrine of ideas [&c.].”, p.314

Topics: Men, Mind, Gold

Memory is the power to revive again in our minds those ideas which after imprinting have disappeared, or have been laid aside out of sight.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.86

Topics: Memories, Sight, Ideas, Imprinting, Revive

The chief art of learning is to attempt but a little at a time.

Topics: Art, Learning, Littles

If punishment reaches not the mind and makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender.

source: - John Locke, George Berkeley (2010). “Locke, Berkely and Hume”, p.65, Cosimo, Inc.

Topics: Punishment, Mind, Prison, Offenders, Supple

Consciousness is the perception of what passes in man's own mind.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.59

Topics: Men, Perception, Mind

No peace and security among mankind-let alone common friendship-can ever exist as long as people think that governments get their authority from God and that religion is to be propagated by force of arms.

Topics: Thinking, Government, Long

Don't tell me what I can't do!

Topics: I Can

Try all things, hold fast that which is good.

source: - John Locke (2007). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: (Including Of the Conduct of the Understanding)”, p.187, Courier Corporation

Topics: Biblical, Trying, All Things, Hold Fast

If the innocent honest Man must quietly quit all he has for Peace sake, to him who will lay violent hands upon it, I desire it may be considered what kind of Peace there will be in the World, which consists only in Violence and Rapine; and which is to be maintained only for the benefit of Robbers and Oppressors.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.385

Topics: Men, Hands, Desire, Honest Man

If the Gospel and the Apostles may be credited, no man can be a Christian without charity, and without that faith which works, not by force, but by love.

source: - John Locke (1751). “Works”, p.242

Topics: Christian, Men, Charity

Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature

source: - Some Thoughts Concerning Education sec. 54 (1693)

Topics: Philosophical, Punishment, Evil, Reins, Reward And Punishment

Truth, like gold, is not less so for being newly brought out of the mine.

source: - John Locke, James Augustus St. John (1872). “Philosophical Works: Preliminary discourse by the editor. On the conduct of the understanding. An essay concerning human understanding”, p.114

Topics: Gold, Mines

Where there is no desire, there will be no industry.

source: - John Locke, Ruth Weissbourd Grant, Nathan Tarcov (1996). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Effort, Desire, Labor

Justice and truth are the common ties of society

source: - John Locke (1828). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: To which are Now First Added, I. An Analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of Ideas, on a Large Sheet. II. A Defence of Mr. Locke's Opinion Concerning Personal Identity, with an Appendix. III. A Treatise on the Conduct of the Understanding. IV. Some Thoughts Concerning Reading and Study for a Gentleman. V. Elements of Natural Philosophy. VI. A New Method of a Common Place-book Extracted from the Author's Works”, p.35

Topics: Ties, Justice, Society

The tendency to cruelty should be watched in children and if they incline to any such cruelty, they should be taught the contrary usage. For the custom of tormenting and killing other animals will, by degrees, harden their hearts even toward man. Children should from the beginning, be brought up in an abhorrence of killing or tormenting living beings.

Topics: Children, Heart, Animal, Killing Others, Abhorrence

The native and untaught suggestions of inquisitive children do often offer things, that may set a considering man's thoughts on work. And I think there is frequently more to be learn'd from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men, who talk in a road, according to the notions they have borrowed, and the prejudices of their education.

source: - John Locke, George Berkeley (2010). “Locke, Berkely & Hume”, p.113, Cosimo, Inc.

Topics: Children, Men, Thinking, Inquisitive

..every Man has a Property in his own Person. This no Body has any Right to but himself. The Labour of his Body, and the Work of his Hands, we may say, are properly his. .... The great and chief end therefore, of Mens uniting into Commonwealths, and putting themselves under Government, is the Preservation of their Property.

source: - Second Treatise of Civil Government ch. 9, sec. 124 (1690)

Topics: Men, Hands, Liberty

He that judges without informing himself to the utmost that he is capable, cannot acquit himself of judging amiss

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.179

Topics: Judging, Judgement, Prison, Informing

The body of People may with Respect resist intolerable Tyranny.

Topics: People, Body, May

To give a man full knowledge of morality, I would send him to no other book than the New Testament.

Topics: Book, Men, Giving

Till a man can judge whether they be truths or not, his understanding is but little improved, and thus men of much reading, though greatly learned, but may be little knowing.

Topics: Reading, Men, Knowing

Faith is the assent to any proposition not made out by the deduction of reason but upon the credit of the proposer.

source: - John Locke (1825). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author”

Topics: Atheism, Credit, Reason

That which is static and repetitive is boring. That which is dynamic and random is confusing. In between lies art.

Topics: Art, Lying, Confusing, Repetitive

We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at in children, who better understand what they see, than what they hear.

source: - "Some Thoughts Concerning Education". Book by John Locke, 1693.

Topics: Children, Wonder, Chameleon

Reason is natural revelation, whereby the eternal father of light, and fountain of all knowledge, communicates to mankind that portion of truth which he has laid within the reach of their natural faculties: revelation is natural reason enlarged by a new set of discoveries communicated by God. . . .

source: - 'An Essay concerning Human Understanding' (1690) bk. 4, ch. 19, sect. 4

Topics: Truth, Father, Light

To be rational is so glorious a thing, that two-legged creatures generally content themselves with the title.

source: - John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: In Nine Volumes”, p.274

Topics: Two, Titles, Reason

So difficult it is to show the various meanings and imperfections of words when we have nothing else but words to do it with.

source: - John Locke, John W. Yolton (1977). “The Locke Reader: Selections from the Works of John Locke with a General Introduction and Commentary”, p.63, CUP Archive

Topics: Writing, Imperfection, Difficult

Every man must some time or other be trusted to himself.

source: - John Locke (1778). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education”, p.46

Topics: Inspirational, Trust, Time

A young man before he leaves the shelter of his father's house, and the guard of a tutor, should be fortify'd with resolution, and made acquainted with men, to secure his virtues, lest he should be led into some ruinous course, or fatal precipice, before he is sufficiently acquainted with the dangers of conversation, and his steadiness enough not to yield to every temptation.

source: - John Locke, George Berkeley (2010). “Locke, Berkely and Hume”, p.54, Cosimo, Inc.

Topics: Father, Men, Yield, Steadiness, Precipice

In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity.

source: - John Locke, John W. Yolton (1977). “The Locke Reader: Selections from the Works of John Locke with a General Introduction and Commentary”, p.279, CUP Archive

Topics: Law, Common, Reason, Offenders

The greatest part cannot know, and therefore they must believe.

source: - John Locke (1958). “The Reasonableness of Christianity: With A Discourse of Miracles, and Part of A Third Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.66, Stanford University Press

Topics: Believe, Knows

Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true.

source: - John Locke (1825). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author”

Topics: Mistake, Errors, Giving

There cannot any one moral rule be proposed whereof a man may not justly demand a reason. Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has any right to but himself. The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.

Topics: Men, People, Liberty, Unlawful

The power of the legislative being derived from the people by a positive voluntary grant and institution, can be no other than what that positive grant conveyed, which being only to make laws, and not to make legislators, the legislative can have no power to transfer their authority of making laws, and place it in other hands.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.312

Topics: Government, Hands, Law, Legislators

Certain subjects yield a general power that may be applied in any direction and should be studied by all.

Topics: Teacher, Yield, May

Mathematical proofs, like diamonds, are hard and clear, and will be touched with nothing but strict reasoning.

Topics: Math, Proof, Diamond, Math Is Like, Mathematical Proof

He that will have his son have respect for him and his orders, must himself have a great reverence for his son.

source: - John Locke, Ruth Weissbourd Grant, Nathan Tarcov (1996). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Respect, Son, Order

If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.

source: - John Locke, John Milton (1830). “Some thoughts concerning education”, p.296

Topics: Health, Hands, Useless, Gaining Knowledge

As usurpation is the exercise of power which another has a right to, so tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, which nobody can have a right to.

source: - John Locke (2015). “The Second Treatise of Civil Government”, p.141, Broadview Press

Topics: Exercise, Government, Tyranny, Usurpation

Those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all.

source: - John Locke, David Wootton (1993). “Locke: Political Writings”, p.426, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Atheist, Promise, Atheism, God Promises

Is it worth the name of freedom to be at liberty to play the fool?

source: - John Locke, James Augustus St. John (1872). “Philosophical Works: Preliminary discourse by the editor. On the conduct of the understanding. An essay concerning human understanding”, p.391

Topics: Freedom, Play, Names

The only thing we are naturally afraid of is pain, or loss of pleasure. And because these are not annexed to any shape, colour, or size of visible objects, we are frighted of none of them, till either we have felt pain from them, or have notions put into us that they will do us harm.

source: - John Locke (2017). “Delphi Complete Works of John Locke (Illustrated)”, p.1518, Delphi Classics

Topics: Pain, Loss, Shapes

Let us suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience.

source: - An Essay Concerning Human Understanding bk. 2, ch. 1, sec. 2 (1690)

Topics: Knowledge, Character, Science, White Paper

It is labour indeed that puts the difference on everything.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two Treatises on Government”, p.221

Topics: Differences, Labor Day, May Day, Labor Day Wishes, Labour Day

A criminal who, having renounced reason ... hath, by the unjust violence and slaughter he hath committed upon one, declared war against all mankind, and therefore may be destroyed as a lion or tiger, one of those wild savage beasts with whom men can have no society nor security.

source: - John Locke (2009). “The Second Treatise on Civil Government”, p.13, Prometheus Books

Topics: War, Men, Criminals

To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.189

Topics: Men, Thinking, Order

He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.

source: - John Locke (1693). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education”, p.236

Topics: Use, Leisure, Recreation

Error is none the better for being common, nor truth the worse for having lain neglected.

Topics: Errors, Common, Neglect

Thirdly, the supreme power cannot take from any man any part of his property without his own consent: for the preservation of property being the end of government, and that for which men enter into society, it necessarily supposes and requires, that the people should have property, without which they must be supposed to lose that, by entering into society, which was the end for which they entered into it; too gross an absurdity for any man to own.

source: - John Locke (2012). “The Second Treatise of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.80, Courier Corporation

Topics: Men, Should Have, People, Supreme Power

Vague and mysterious forms of speech, and abuse of language, have so long passed for mysteries of science; and hard or misapplied words with little or no meaning have, by prescription, such a right to be mistaken for deep learning and height of speculation, that it will not be easy to persuade either those who speak or those who hear them, that they are but the covers of ignorance and hindrance of true knowledge.

Topics: Ignorance, Knowledge, Long, Deep Learning, Vague

Though the water running in the fountain be every ones, yet who can doubt, but that in the pitcher is his only who drew it out?

source: - John Locke, David Wootton (1993). “Locke: Political Writings”, p.275, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Running, Water, Doubt

Struggle is nature's way of strengthening it

Topics: Struggle, Way, Strengthening

Untruth being unacceptable to the mind of man, there is no other defence left for absurdity but obscurity.

source: - John Locke (1824). “Of human understanding. A defence of Mr. Locke's opinion concerning personal identity. Of the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of common-place-book”, p.29

Topics: Men, Mind, Obscurity

I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.

source: - John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: Letters to the Right Rev. Edward lord bishop of Worcester, concerning Mr. Locke's Essay of human understanding. Mr. Locke's reply. Answer to Remarks upon an Essay concerning human understanding. Mr. Locke's reply”, p.459

Topics: Teach

Children (nay, and men too) do most by example.

source: - John Locke (1693). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education”, p.69

Topics: Children, Men, Example

Practice conquers the habit of doing, without reflecting on the rule.

Topics: Practice, Conquer, Habit

The picture of a shadow is a positive thing.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.74

Topics: Shadow, Positive Things

The Church which taught men not to keep faith with heretics, had no claim to toleration.

Topics: Men, Atheism, Church, Toleration

This is that which I think great readers are apt to be mistaken in; those who have read of everything, are thought to understand everything too; but it is not always so. Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours. We are of the ruminating kind , and it is not enough to cram ourselves with a great load of collections:;; unless we chew them over again, they will not give us strength and nourishment.

source: - John Locke, Ruth Weissbourd Grant, Nathan Tarcov (1996). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Reading, Thinking, Giving

[I]t being reasonable and just, I should have a right to destroy that which threatens me with destruction: for by the fundamental law of nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred: and one may destroy a man who makes war upon him, or has discovered an enmity to his being, for the same reason that he may kill a Wolf or a lion.

source: - John Locke (1956). “The Second Treatise of Government: (An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government), And, A Letter Concerning Toleration”, p.20, Library of Alexandria

Topics: War, Men, Should Have

Since the great foundation of fear is pain, the way to harden and fortify children against fear and danger is to accustom them to suffer pain.

source: - John Locke, George Berkeley (2010). “Locke, Berkely & Hume”, p.106, Cosimo, Inc.

Topics: Children, Pain, Suffering

God is the place of spirits, as spaces are the places of bodies.

source: - John Locke (1706). “Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke ...”, p.160

Topics: Space, Body, Spirit

How then shall they have the play-games you allow them, if none must be bought for them?" I answer, they should make them themselves, or at least endeavour it, and set themselves about it. ...And if you help them where they are at a stand, it will more endear you to them than any chargeable toys that you shall buy for them.

source: - John Locke, John Milton (1830). “Some thoughts concerning education”, p.166

Topics: Games, Play, Toys

The care of souls cannot belong to the civil magistrate.

source: - John Locke, John W. Yolton (1977). “The Locke Reader: Selections from the Works of John Locke with a General Introduction and Commentary”, p.246, CUP Archive

Topics: Soul, Atheism, Care

In short, herein seems to lie the difference between idiots and madmen, that madmen put wrong ideas together, and so make wrong propositions, but argue and reason right from them: but idiots make very few or no propositions, and reason scarce at all.

source: - John Locke (1828). “An essay concerning human understanding ... The twentieth edition, etc”, p.100

Topics: Lying, Ideas, Differences, Wrong Ideas

Words, in their primary or immediate signification, stand for nothing but the ideas in the mind of him who uses them.

source: - John Locke, John W. Yolton (1977). “The Locke Reader: Selections from the Works of John Locke with a General Introduction and Commentary”, p.146, CUP Archive

Topics: Ideas, Mind, Use

Children have as much mind to show that they are free, that their own good actions come from themselves, that they are absolute and independent, as any of the proudest of you grown men, think of them as you please.

source: - John Locke, Ruth Weissbourd Grant, Nathan Tarcov (1996). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Children, Independent, Thinking, Good Actions

Set the mind to work, and apply the thoughts vigorously to the business, for it holds in the struggles of the mind, as in those of war, that to think we shall conquer is to conquer.

Topics: Business, War, Struggle

Reason, if consulted with, would advise, that their children's time should be spent in acquiring what might be useful to them when they come to be men, rather than to have their heads stuff'd with a deal of trash, a great part whereof they usually never do ('tis certain they never need to) think on again as long as they live: and so much of it as does stick by them they are only the worse for.

source: - John Locke, George Berkeley (2010). “Locke, Berkely and Hume”, p.84, Cosimo, Inc.

Topics: Children, Men, Thinking, Be A Man

Action is the great business of mankind, and the whole matter about which all laws are conversant.

source: - John Locke (1825). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author”, p.191

Topics: Law, Matter, Action

Habits wear more constantly and with greatest force than reason, which, when we have most need of it, is seldom fairly consulted, and more rarely obeyed

Topics: Needs, Reason, Habit

I find every sect, as far as reason will help them, make use of it gladly: and where it fails them, they cry out, It is a matter of faith, and above reason.

source: - John Locke (1854). “Locke's essays. An essay concerning human understanding. And A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. With the author's last additions”, p.447

Topics: Religion, Use, Matter

The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cannot pass it over to others. The People alone can appoint the Form of the Commonwealth, which is by Constituting the Legislative, and appointing in whose hands that shall be.

source: - John Locke (1759). “THE WORKS OF JOHN LOCKE, Esq;: In THREE VOLUMES. To which is Added, The LIFE of the AUTHOR; AND A COLLECTION of Several of His PIECES Published by Mr. DESMAIZEAUX.”, p.208

Topics: Hands, Law, People

The reservedness and distance that fathers keep, often deprive their sons of that refuge which would be of more advantage to them than an hundred rebukes or chidings.

source: - John Locke, Ruth Weissbourd Grant, Nathan Tarcov (1996). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, Hackett Publishing

Topics: Father, Distance, Son, Rebuke

MEN being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.

source: - Second Treatise of Civil Government ch. 8, sec. 95 (1690)

Topics: Independent, Men, Political

The necessity of pursuing true happiness is the foundation of all liberty- Happiness, in its full extent, is the utmost pleasure we are capable of.

Topics: Happiness, Liberty, Foundation

Man is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out of the common road.

source: - John Locke (1825). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author”, p.33

Topics: Men, Littles, Common

As the magistrate has no power to impose by his laws the use of any rites and ceremonies in any church, so neither has he any power to forbid the use of such rites and ceremonies as are already received, approved, and practised by any church; because if he did so, he would destroy the church itself; the end of whose institution is only to worship God with freedom, after its own manner.

source: - John Locke (2012). “A Letter Concerning Toleration: Latin and English Texts Revised and Edited with Variants and an Introduction”, p.65, Springer Science & Business Media

Topics: Law, Atheism, Church

He that would seriously set upon the search of truth, ought in the first place to prepare his mind with a love of it. For he that loves it not, will not take much pains to get it; nor be much concerned when he misses it.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.532

Topics: Pain, Missing, Mind

Curiosity in children ... is but an appetite after knowledge and therefore ought to be encouraged in them, not only as a good sign, but as the great instrument nature has provided to remove that ignorance they were born with and which, without this busy inquisitiveness, will make them dull and useless creatures.

source: - John Locke (2007). “Some Thoughts Concerning Education: (Including Of the Conduct of the Understanding)”, p.93, Courier Corporation

Topics: Children, Ignorance, Curiosity

'Tis true that governments cannot be supported without great charge, and it is fit everyone who enjoys a share of protection should pay out of his estate his proportion of the maintenance of it.

Topics: Government, Maintenance, Libertarian

When Fashion hath once Established, what Folly or craft began, Custom makes it Sacred, and 'twill be thought impudence or madness, to contradict or question it.

source: - John Locke (1728). “Two Treatises of Government: In the Former the False Principles & Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer & His Followers, are Detected & Overthrown; the Latter is an Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent & End of Civil Government”, p.49

Topics: Fashion, Crafts, Sacred, Impudence

The greatest part of mankind ... are given up to labor, and enslaved to the necessity of their mean condition; whose lives are worn out only in the provisions for living.

source: - John Locke (1813). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.257

Topics: Mean, Provision, Given

Let not men think there is no truth, but in the sciences that they study, or the books that they read.

source: - John Locke (1824). “Essay concerning human understanding (concluded) Defence of Mr. Locke's opinion concerning personal identity. Of the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. New method for a common-place book”, p.328

Topics: Book, Men, Thinking

Men in great fortunes are strangers to themselves, and while they are in the puzzle of business, they have no time to tend their health either of body or mind.

source: - John Locke, Francis Bacon (1825). “The Conduct of the Understanding: Essays, Moral, Economical, and Political”, p.128

Topics: Men, Mind, Body

What humanity abhors, custom reconciles and recommends to us.

source: - John Locke, Alfred Howard (1834). “The Beauties of Locke, Consisting of Selections from His Philosophical, Moral, and Theological Works”, p.62

Topics: Humanity, Tradition, Reconcile

It is vain to find fault with those arts of deceiving wherein men find pleasure to be deceived.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.373

Topics: Art, Lying, Men, Deceiving Others, Being Deceived

I am sure, zeal or love for truth can never permit falsehood to be used in the defense of it.

source: - John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: The reasonableness of Christianity. A vindication of the Reasonableness of Christianity, from Mr. Edward's reflections. A second vindication”, p.186

Topics: Defense, Permit, Used

It is hard to know what other way men can come to truth, to lay hold of it, if they do not dig and search for it as for gold and hid treasure; but he that does so, must have much earth and rubbish, before he gets the pure metal; sand, and pebbles, and dross usually lie blended with it, but the gold is nevertheless gold, and will enrich the man that employs his pains to seek and separate it.

source: - John Locke (1727). “The Works of John Locke”, p.392

Topics: Pain, Lying, Men, Dross

The Indians , whom we call barbarous, observe much more decency and civility in their discourses and conversation, giving one another a fair silent hearing till they have quite done; and then answering them calmly, and without noise or passion. And if it be not so in this civiliz'd part of the world, we must impute it to a neglect in education, which has not yet reform'd this antient piece of barbarity amongst us.

source: - John Locke (2017). “Delphi Complete Works of John Locke (Illustrated)”, p.1542, Delphi Classics

Topics: Passion, Giving, Reform, Barbarity

If we will disbelieve everything, because we cannot certainly know all things, we shall do much what as wisely as he who would not use his legs, but sit still and perish, because he had no wings to fly.

source: - John Locke (1836). “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, p.3

Topics: Wings, Use, Legs, Wings To Fly

And because it may be too great a temptation to human frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons, who have the power of making laws, to have also in their hands the power to execute them, whereby they may exempt themselves from obedience to the laws they make, and suit the law, both in its making, and execution, to their own private advantage.

source: - John Locke (1821). “Two treatises of government”, p.313

Topics: Hands, Law, Temptation, Human Frailties

There is no such way to gain admittance, or give defence to strange and absurd Doctrines, as to guard them round about with Legions of obscure, doubtful, and undefin'd Words.

source: - John Locke (1714). “The Works of John Locke Esq: In Three Volumes. The Contents of which Follow in the Next Leaf. With Alphabetical Tables. ...”, p.228

Topics: Giving, Doctrine, Way, Legion, Admittance

If to break loose from the bounds of reason, and to want that restraint of examination and judgment which keeps us from choosing or doing the worst, be liberty, true liberty, madmen and fools are the only freemen: but yet, I think, nobody would choose to be mad for the sake of such liberty, but he that is mad already.

Topics: Thinking, Mad, Liberty

The difference, so observable in men's understandings and parts, does not arise so much from their natural faculties, as acquired habits.

source: - John Locke (1824). “Of human understanding. A defence of Mr. Locke's opinion concerning personal identity. Of the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of common-place-book”, p.264

Topics: Men, Differences, Understanding

Whoever has used what means he is capable of, for the informing of himself, with a readiness to believe and obey what shall be taught and prescribed by Jesus, his Lord and King, is a true and faithful subject of Christ s kingdom:;; and cannot be thought to fail in any thing necessary to salvation.

source: - John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: The reasonableness of Christianity. A vindication of the Reasonableness of Christianity, from Mr. Edward's reflections. A second vindication”, p.233

Topics: Jesus, Kings, Believe, Informing

Whensoever, therefore, the legislative shall transgress this fundamental rule of society, and either by ambition, fear, folly, or corruption, endeavour to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other, an absolute power over the lives, liberties, and estates of the people, by this breach of trust they forfeit the power the people had put into the hands... and it devolves to the people, who have a right to resume their original liberty, and... provide for their own safety and security.

source: - John Locke (1947). “Two Treatises of Government: With a Supplement, Patriarcha, by Robert Filmer”, p.233, Simon and Schuster

Topics: Ambition, Hands, People, Safety And Security, Property Rights

Laws provide, as much as ispossible that the goods and health of subjects be not injured by the fraud and violence of others. They do not guard them from thenegligence or ill-husbandry of the possessors themselves.

source: - John Locke (2012). “A Letter Concerning Toleration: Latin and English Texts Revised and Edited with Variants and an Introduction”, p.45, Springer Science & Business Media

Topics: Philosophy, Law, Political, Political Philosophy

The works of nature and the works of revelation display religion to mankind in characters so large and visible that those who are not quite blind may in them see and read the first principles and most necessary parts of it and from thence penet into those infinite depths filled with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Topics: Character, Religion, Principles, Display

This is my destiny — I'm supposed to do this, dammit! Don't tell me what I can and can't do!

Topics: Destiny, My Destiny, I Can