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 LOCKEIf we trace the progress of our minds, and with attention observe how it repeats, adds together, and unites its simple ideas received from sensation or reflection, it will lead us farther than at first, perhaps, we should have imagined.
More John Locke Quotes
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[H]e that thinks absolute power purifies men’s blood, and corrects the baseness of human nature, need read the history of this, or any other age, to be convinced to the contrary.
JOHN LOCKE -
A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.
JOHN LOCKE -
Whenever 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.
JOHN LOCKE -
The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.
JOHN LOCKE -
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.
JOHN LOCKE -
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.
JOHN LOCKE -
I have no reason to suppose that he, who would take away my Liberty, would not when he had me in his Power, take away everything else.
JOHN LOCKE -
We are born with faculties and powers capable almost of anything, such at least as would carry us farther than can easily be imagined: but it is only the exercise of those powers, which gives us ability and skill in any thing, and leads us towards perfection.
JOHN LOCKE -
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.
JOHN LOCKE -
He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.
JOHN LOCKE -
Tis true that governments cannot be supported without great charge, and it is fit everyone who enjoys a share of protection should pay out of his estate his proportion of the maintenance of it.
JOHN LOCKE -
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.
JOHN LOCKE -
There is no such way to gain admittance, or give defence to strange and absurd Doctrines, as to guard them round about with Legions of obscure, doubtful, and undefin’d Words.
JOHN LOCKE -
Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge.
JOHN LOCKE -
Slavery is so vile and miserable an Estate of Man, and so directly opposite to the generous Temper and Courage of our Nation; that ’tis hardly to be conceived, that an Englishman, much less a Gentleman, should plead for’t.
JOHN LOCKE