John Locke Quotes
-
And thus the community perpetually retains a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of anybody, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish, or so wicked, as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and properties of the subject.
-
Whosoever is found variable, and changeth manifestly without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption: therefore, always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, and declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to change.
-
In my opinion, understanding who your target audience is, and what they want, and writing to them (and only them!) is the most important component of being successful as an author.
-
Crooked things may be as stiff and unflexible as streight: and Men may be as positive and peremptory in Error as in Truth.
-
'...the church of England, when she baptizes any one, makes him not a Christian ... the church of England is mistaken, and makes none but socinians Christians'
-
It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.
-
Let not men think there is no truth, but in the sciences that they study, or the books that they read.
-
That which parents should take care of... is to distinguish between the wants of fancy, and those of nature.
-
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.
-
Practice conquers the habit of doing, without reflecting on the rule.
-
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.
-
For those who either perceive but dully, or retain the ideas that come into their minds but ill, who cannot readily excite or compound them, will have little matter to think on.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.
-
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.
-
When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.
-
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.
-
What worries you, masters you.
-
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.
-
False and doubtful positions, relied upon as unquestionable maxims, keep those who build on them in the dark from truth. Such are usually the prejudices imbibed from education, party, reverence, fashion, interest, et cetera.
-
The discipline of desire is the background of character.
-
Revolt is the right of the people.
-
Who lies for you will lie against you.