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

John Locke (1632–1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of philosophy. He made significant contributions to various fields, including political philosophy, epistemology, and social contract theory. Here are some key aspects of his work

1. **Epistemology:** Locke is best known for his work on epistemology, particularly his theory of empiricism. He argued that all human knowledge comes from sensory experience and that the mind at birth is a "tabula rasa" or a blank slate. In his influential work "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" (1689), he discussed the limitations of human knowledge, the nature of ideas, and the distinction between primary and secondary qualities.

2. **Social Contract Theory:** Locke's political philosophy is characterized by his theory of the social contract. He believed that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed. He argued that individuals form political societies to protect their natural rights, including life, liberty, and property. If a government fails to uphold these rights, the people have the right to overthrow it.

3. **Natural Rights:** Locke's concept of natural rights had a profound impact on political thought. He asserted that individuals have inherent natural rights that precede the establishment of civil society. These rights include the right to life, liberty, and property. Locke's ideas on natural rights played a crucial role in shaping later documents such as the American Declaration of Independence.

4. **Toleration:** Locke wrote extensively on religious tolerance and the separation of church and state. In his "Letter Concerning Toleration" (1689), he argued that religious beliefs should be matters of private conscience, and the state should not interfere in religious matters as long as they do not threaten the public order.

5. **Two Treatises of Government:** Locke's most famous political work, "Two Treatises of Government" (1689), laid out his ideas on political authority, the social contract, and the rights of individuals. In the first treatise, he argued against the divine right of kings, while in the second treatise, he presented his theory of government based on the consent of the governed.

Locke's ideas had a profound impact on the Enlightenment period and influenced the development of modern political philosophy, democratic governance, and the concept of individual rights. His works continue to be studied and discussed by philosophers, political scientists, and scholars to this day.

John Locke Quotes

Here are 50 quotes attributed to John Locke:

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. "The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men."

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

9. "Where there is no property, there is no justice."

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

11. "The discipline of desire is the background of character."

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

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

14. "All wealth is the product of labor."

15. "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."

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

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

18. "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."

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

20. "The greatest part of mankind are neither wise nor good."

21. "The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts."

22. "The magistrate's authority extends only to civil interests."

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

24. "The end of government is the good of mankind."

25. "All men are born in a state of equality."

26. "The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

27. "Government has no other end but the preservation of property."

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

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

30. "No man in civil society can be exempted from the laws of it."

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

32. "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."

33. "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."

34. "Parents have no right to impose their liking or dislike of a trade upon their children."

35. "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; a liberty to follow my own will in all things, where the rule prescribes not, and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, unknown, arbitrary will of another man."

36. "Man is not born to be idle."

37. "All power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people."

38. "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."

39. "He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money."

40. "Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

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

42. "A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another."

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

44. "Government has no other end but the preservation of property."

45. "A child knows his nurse before his nurse knows him."

46. "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."

47. "Where there is no law, there is no freedom."

48. "The only defense against the world is a thorough knowledge of it."

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

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

John Locke Quotes

Here are some quotes by John Locke on various topics as you've requested

**On Government:**

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

2. "Government has no other end but the preservation of property."

3. "The end of government is the good of mankind."

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

5. "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."

**On Natural Rights:**

6. "Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

7. "All men are born in a state of equality."

8. "The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

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

**On Human Nature:**

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

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

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

13. "The discipline of desire is the background of character."

14. "The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts."

**On Life, Liberty, and Property:**

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

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

17. "Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

**On Education:**

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

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

**On Democracy:**

20. "Where there is no law, there is no freedom."

21. "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."

**On Social Contract:**

22. "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."

23. "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."

**On Liberty:**

24. "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; a liberty to follow my own will in all things, where the rule prescribes not, and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, unknown, arbitrary will of another man."

25. "The only defense against the world is a thorough knowledge of it."

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