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An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable; A villain, like the beams of a balance, is always varying, upwards and downwards.

John Locke

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.
JOHN LOCKE

Matter Religion Use
There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men.
JOHN LOCKE

Children Men Philosophical
Curiosity should be as carefully cherish’d in children, as other appetites suppress’d.
JOHN LOCKE

Cherish Children Curiosity
I do not say this, that I think there should be no difference of opinions in conversation, nor opposition in men’s discourses… ‘Tis not the owning one’s dissent from another, that I speak against, but the manner of doing it.
JOHN LOCKE

Differences Men Thinking
[Individuals] have a right to defend themselves and recover by force what by unlawful force is taken from them.
JOHN LOCKE

Individual Taken Unlawful
Revolt is the right of the people
JOHN LOCKE

People Revolt Right
I esteem it above all things necessary to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the other.
JOHN LOCKE

Atheism Government Lying
Memory is the power to revive again in our minds those ideas which after imprinting have disappeared, or have been laid aside out of sight.
JOHN LOCKE

Ideas Memories Sight
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

Doctrine Giving Way
Understanding like the eye; whilst it makes us see and perceive all things, takes no notice of itself; and it requires art and pains to set it at a distance and make it its own subject.
JOHN LOCKE

Art Distance Notice Pain Perceive
Children have as much mind to show that they are free, that their own good actions come from themselves, that they are absolute and independent, as any of the proudest of you grown men, think of them as you please.
JOHN LOCKE

Children Independent Thinking
Words, in their primary or immediate signification, stand for nothing but the ideas in the mind of him who uses them.
JOHN LOCKE

Ideas Mind Signification Use
Error is none the better for being common, nor truth the worse for having lain neglected.
JOHN LOCKE

Common Errors Neglect
Any one reflecting upon the thought he has of the delight, which any present or absent thing is apt to produce in him, has the idea we call love.
JOHN LOCKE

Delight Ideas Reflecting Upon
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.
JOHN LOCKE

Knowing Men Reading
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

Exercise Giving Skills

An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable; A villain, like the beams of a balance, is always varying, upwards and downwards.

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An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable; A villain, like the beams of a balance, is always varying, upwards and downwards.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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