John Locke

question mankind mischiefs power who

“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.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

mind ideas simple compound relations abstraction three

“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.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

opinion knowledge measure moderate persuasion

“It is therefore worthwhile, to search out the bounds between opinion and knowledge; and examine by what measures, in things, whereof we have no certain knowledge, we ought to regulate our assent, and moderate our persuasions.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

personal identity consciousness substance

“Personal Identity depends on Consciousness not on Substance”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

reading furnish mind material knowledge thinking ours

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

action men interpreter thoughts

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

opinion suspected opposed reason uncommon

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

chemelons color hue moral character around surroundings

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

education gentleman reading company reflection finish

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

revolt right people

“Revolt is the right of the people”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

learn unexpected question child discourses men

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

warry master

“What worries you, masters you.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

intellect senses

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

men think opinion superficial confused

“Few men think, yet all will have opinions. Hence men’s opinions are superficial and confused.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

law abolish restrain preserve enlarge freedom

“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

man touchstone gold truth appearance reason prejudice

“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 assumed prejudices, overweening presumption, and narrowing our minds.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

practice improve mind body understanding habit

“It is only practice that improves our minds as well as bodies, and we must expect nothing from our understandings any farther than they are perfected by habits.”

― John Locke (1632-1704)

men nature equal right freedom authority independent harm

"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 (1632-1704)

single man judge obedience resistance command magistrate

"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 (1632-1704)

income shoes small pinch large stumble trip

"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 (1632-1704)

curiosity children appetite knowledge silly pursuits balked negl

"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."

― John Locke (1632-1704)

education young perfect science open mind capabilities

"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."

― John Locke (1632-1704)

gather people seditious commotion oppression

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

world constant flux remain same state

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

man knowledge beyond experience

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

writing words loosely unseadily minded understood

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

fashion ostentation riches

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)

judge inform amiss

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

― John Locke (1632-1704)