Reading: Twenty-Five Quotes from John Locke

Twenty-Five Quotes from John Locke

1. "Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it? To this I answer, in one word, from experience."

In An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Locke rejects the notion of innate ideas and argues that all knowledge comes from sensory experience and reflection.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II, Chapter I)

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

Locke describes the state of nature as one governed by natural law, rooted in reason, which obliges everyone to respect the rights of others.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter II)

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

Locke emphasizes that human knowledge is limited by what we can observe and experience, reinforcing his empiricist approach.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II, Chapter I)

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

Locke points out that human fallibility and bias make error a common part of the human condition, underscoring the importance of careful, rational inquiry.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II, Chapter XI)

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

Locke argues that the fundamental purpose of government is to protect individuals' property rights, which include life, liberty, and possessions.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter IX)

6. "Whenever the 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."

Locke argues for the right of revolution, stating that people are justified in overthrowing a government that threatens their natural rights.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XIX)

7. "The mind furnishes its own ideas by reflecting on its own operations within itself."

Locke explains that in addition to sensory experience, the mind reflects on its own internal operations to form ideas, a process he calls reflection.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II, Chapter I)

8. "Reason must be our last judge and guide in everything."

Locke emphasizes the centrality of reason in human affairs, suggesting that all decisions and beliefs should be subjected to rational scrutiny.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book IV, Chapter XIX)

9. "For where there is no law, there is no freedom."

Locke believes that true freedom can only exist within the framework of law, which protects individuals from harm and upholds their rights.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter VI)

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

Locke asserts that self-ownership is a fundamental natural right, and that individuals are sovereign over their own bodies and labor.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter V)

11. "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 laws, where there is no law, there is no freedom."

Locke explains that laws are essential for the protection of liberty, as they prevent others from infringing on one's natural rights.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter VI)

12. "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."

Locke holds that the pursuit of truth is one of the highest human callings, and that a commitment to truth leads to other moral virtues.
(Letters to Anthony Collins, 1703)

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

Locke argues that the legitimacy of government is derived from the people, and therefore it cannot have powers beyond what individuals themselves possess.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XI)

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

Locke believes that human actions provide the clearest evidence of their thoughts and intentions, more so than their words.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II, Chapter XXXII)

15. "Wherever law ends, tyranny begins."

Locke warns that when a government or ruler acts outside the law, it is an act of tyranny, and such behavior must be resisted.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XVIII)

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

Locke emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and reflection as essential elements of personal development beyond formal education.
(Some Thoughts Concerning Education, Section 217)

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

Locke distinguishes between the act of correcting an error and the deeper task of guiding someone to understand the truth for themselves.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book IV, Chapter VII)

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

Locke stresses that reading alone is not sufficient for acquiring knowledge; it is the process of thinking critically about what we read that leads to understanding.
(Some Thoughts Concerning Education, Section 188)

19. "That which is static and repetitive is boring. That which is dynamic and random is confusing. In between lies art."

Although Locke did not specifically write about aesthetics, this quote reflects his belief in balance and order, which can also apply to his views on knowledge and governance.
(Misattributed—actual source unknown)

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

Locke recognizes that human beings are often resistant to new ideas, not because of their merit, but because of their novelty and unfamiliarity.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book IV, Chapter XX)

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

Locke contends that property rights are essential to the concept of justice, and that the protection of property is central to the function of government.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter V)

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

Locke views the acquisition of knowledge as valuable both for personal development and for the ability to share it with others.
(Some Thoughts Concerning Education, Section 176)

23. "Truth scarce ever yet carried it by vote anywhere at its first appearance."

Locke observes that truth is rarely accepted immediately and often faces resistance before it gains widespread acceptance.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book IV, Chapter XX)*

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

Locke emphasizes that it is through human actions, not just words, that we understand a person’s true beliefs and intentions.
(An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II, Chapter XXXII)

25. "Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others, which cannot be where there is no law."

Locke argues that liberty is only possible within a legal framework that prevents individuals from infringing on the freedom of others.
(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter VI)