John Locke Quotes - Page 4

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

It is practice alone that brings the powers of the mind, as well as those of the body, to their perfection.

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

Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues.

Men in great place are thrice servants; servants of the sovereign state, servants of fame, and servants of business; so as they have no freedom, neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in their times. It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.

Try all things, hold fast that which is good.

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

The greatest part cannot know, and therefore they must believe.

Where there is no property there is no injustice.

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.

Certain subjects yield a general power that may be applied in any direction and should be studied by all.

Is it worth the name of freedom to be at liberty to play the fool?

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

The chief art of learning is to attempt but a little at a time.

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

No peace and security among mankind-let alone common friendship-can ever exist as long as people think that governments get their authority from God and that religion is to be propagated by force of arms.

Till a man can judge whether they be truths or not, his understanding is but little improved, and thus men of much reading, though greatly learned, but may be little knowing.

The mind is furnished with ideas by experience alone

There are two sides, two players. One is light, the other is dark.

The care of souls cannot belong to the civil magistrate.

Those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all.

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

I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.

Children (nay, and men too) do most by example.

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, which being only to make laws, and not to make legislators, the legislative can have no power to transfer their authority of making laws, and place it in other hands.