John Locke Quotes

Quotes about:

The most precious of all possessions is power over ourselves.

John Locke

Discipline, Self Discipline, Possession

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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.

John Locke

Independent, Equality, Men

260 Copy quote
What worries you, masters you.

John Locke

Inspirational, Life, Perseverance

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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.

John Locke

Second Amendment, Liberty, Reason

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

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Who lies for you will lie against you.

John Locke

Truth, Honesty, Lying

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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.

John Locke

Freedom, War, People

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

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Wherever Law ends, Tyranny begins.

John Locke

Law, Ends, Tyranny

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

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

John Locke

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Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others

John Locke

Liberty, Violence, Restraint

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

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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.

John Locke

Wisdom, Gun, Men

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

John Locke

Government, Libertarian Party, People

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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.

John Locke

Freedom, Law, Ends

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

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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.

John Locke

Funny, Money, Shoes

218 Copy quote
With books we stand on the shoulders of giants.

John Locke

Book, Giants, Language

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

John Locke

Motivational, Honesty, Integrity

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

117 Copy quote
Where there is no law there is no freedom.

John Locke

Freedom, Law, Liberty

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

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

John Locke

Education, Truth, Philosophical

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding bk. 4, ch. 7, sec. 11 (1690)

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

John Locke

Philosophical, Parenting, Bitterness

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

John Locke

Inspirational, Motivational, Education

John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: 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 gentlemen. Elements of natural philosophy. New method of a common-place-book”, p.356

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

John Locke

Practice, Perfection, Mind

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

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The discipline of desire is the background of character.

John Locke

Philosophical, Character, Discipline

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

John Locke

Peace, War, Independent

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

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

John Locke

Heaven, Way, Wealth

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

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

John Locke

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

John Locke

Grateful, Eye, Light

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

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Born: August 29, 1632
Died: October 28, 1704
Occupation: Philosopher
Cite this Page: Citation

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