John Locke Quotes
To give a man full knowledge of morality, I would send him to no other book than the New Testament.
As much land as a man tills, plants, improves, cultivated, and can use the product of, so much is his property. He by his labour does, as it were, enclose it from the common.
The only remedy against the malady of life is life itself. The bane is its own antidote.
Any human love a man gets he can make fill his life. It's like the grain of mustard-seed.
The only cure for loss of illusions is fresh illusions, more illusions, and always illusions.
If punishment reaches not the mind and makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender.
If the Gospel and the Apostles may be credited, no man can be a Christian without charity, and without that faith which works, not by force, but by love.
When the sacredness of property is talked of, it should be remembered that any such sacredness does not belong in the same degree to landed property.
Children generally hate to be idle; all the care then is that their busy humour should be constantly employed in something of use to them
Set the mind to work, and apply the thoughts vigorously to the business, for it holds in the struggles of the mind, as in those of war, that to think we shall conquer is to conquer.
He that denies any of the doctrines that Christ has delivered, to be true, denies him to be sent from God, and consequently to be the Messiah; and so ceases to be a Christian.
This is my destiny — I'm supposed to do this, dammit! Don't tell me what I can and can't do!
Action is the great business of mankind, and the whole matter about which all laws are conversant.
A man may live long, and die at last in ignorance of many truths, which his mind was capable of knowing, and that with certainty.
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.
I find every sect, as far as reason will help them, make use of it gladly: and where it fails them, they cry out, It is a matter of faith, and above reason.
It is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way to knowledge.
Though the familiar use of things about us take off our wonder, yet it cures not our ignorance.
Virtue is everywhere that which is thought praiseworthy; and nothing else but that which has the allowance of public esteem is called virtue.
In the discharge of thy place set before thee the best examples; for imitation is a globe of precepts.
Crooked things may be as stiff and unflexible as streight: and Men may be as positive and peremptory in Error as in Truth.
All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed.
He that makes use of another's fancy or necessity to sell ribbons or cloth dearer to him than to another man at the same time, cheats him.
The senses at first let in particular Ideas, and furnish the yet empty Cabinet: And the Mind by degrees growing familiar with some of them, they are lodged in the Memory, and Names got to them.
This is to think, that men are so foolish, that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them by pole-cats, or foxes; but are content, nay, think it safety, to be devoured by lions.
There is not so contemptible a plant or animal that does not confound the most enlarged understanding.
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.
He that in the ordinary affairs of life would admit of nothing but direct plain demonstration would be sure of nothing in this world but of perishing quickly.
Beware how in making the portraiture thou breakest the pattern: for divinity maketh the love of ourselves the pattern; the love of our neighbours but the portraiture.
Many a good poetic vein is buried under a trade, and never produces any thing for want of improvement.
If all be a Dream, then he doth but dream that he makes the Question; and so it is not much matter that a waking Man should answer him.
Some eyes want spectacles to see things clearly and distinctly: but let not those that use them therefore say nobody can see clearly without them.
You shall find, that there cannot be a greater spur to the attaining what you would have the eldest learn, and know himself, than to set him upon teaching it his younger brothers and sisters.
That which parents should take care of... is to distinguish between the wants of fancy, and those of nature.
To ask at what time a man has first any ideas is to ask when he begins to perceive; having ideas and perception being the same thing.
The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes base, and by indignities men come to dignities.
I hold in my hands the very soul of a man. What more dare a woman ask of the high gods?
