Quotes from John Locke

Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.

There cannot any one moral rule be proposed whereof a man may not justly demand a reason.

Untruth being unacceptable to the mind of man, there is no other defence left for absurdity but obscurity.

Consciousness is the perception of what passes in man's own mind.

It is vain to find fault with those arts of deceiving wherein men find pleasure to be deceived.

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

The difference, so observable in men's understandings and parts, does not arise so much from their natural faculties, as acquired habits.

MEN being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our incomes are like our shoes; if too small, they gall and pinch us; but if too large, they cause us to stumble and to trip.

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

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.

Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.

The mind is furnished with ideas by experience alone

The picture of a shadow is a positive thing.

The most precious of all possessions is power over ourselves.

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.