John Locke quotes

Born
29 August 1632 Wrington, Somerset, England.

Died
28 October 1704.

Occupation
Philosopher, physician.

John Lockewas an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the “Father of Liberalism”.

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

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

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

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

Where there is no property there is no injustice.
– John Locke

All wealth is the product of labor.
– John Locke

The discipline of desire is the background of character.
– John Locke

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.
– John Locke

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

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

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.
– John Locke

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.
– John Locke

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

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

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.
– John Locke

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.
– John Locke

It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.
– John Locke

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

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

No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.
– John Locke

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

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

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

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

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

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.
– John Locke

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