110+ John Locke Quotes On Government, Natural Rights And Social Contract

John Locke was an English philosopher and physician who lived during the 17th century. He is considered one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers, and is known for his theories on the social contract and government. Locke is best known for his work, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, which laid the foundation for empiricism and is considered one of the most important works in the history of philosophy. Following is our collection on famous quotes by John Locke on government, natural rights, social contract.

Top 10 John Locke Quotes

1. What worries you, masters you.
2. Who lies for you will lie against you.
3. 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.
4. Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.
5. Wherever Law ends, Tyranny begins.
6. There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men.
7. The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.
8. I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
9. Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.
10. Revolt is the right of the people

John Locke Image Quotes

All wealth is the product of labor. — John Locke

The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. — John Locke

John Locke Short Quotes

• All wealth is the product of labor.
• No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience.
• The discipline of desire is the background of character.
• The picture of a shadow is a positive thing.
• There cannot be greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse.
• When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.
• Where there is no desire, there will be no industry.
• Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues.
• The Church which taught men not to keep faith with heretics, had no claim to toleration.
• He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.

John Locke Quotes About Government

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

Freedom of men under government is to have a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society and made by the legislative power vested in it and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, arbitrary will of another man. — John Locke

Government has no other end, but the preservation of property. — John Locke

The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves. — John Locke

There cannot any one moral rule be proposed whereof a man may not justly demand a reason. Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has any right to but himself. The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

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. — 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

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

Who hath a prospect of the different state of perfect happiness or misery that attends all men after this life, depending on their behavior, the measures of good and evil that govern his choice are mightily changed. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Education

Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him. — John Locke

The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. — John Locke

The business of education is not to make the young perfect in any one of the sciences, but so to open and dispose their minds as may best make them - capable of any, when they shall apply themselves to it. — John Locke

How much education may reconcile young people to pain and sufference, the examples of Sparta do sufficiently shew; and they who have once brought themselves not to think bodily pain the greatest of evils, or that which they ought to stand most in fear of, have made no small advance toward virtue. — John Locke

False and doubtful positions, relied upon as unquestionable maxims, keep those who build on them in the dark from truth. Such are usually the prejudices imbibed from education, party, reverence, fashion, interest, et cetera. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Freedom

Where there is no law there is no freedom. — John Locke

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

All men by nature are equal in that equal right that every man hath to his natural freedom, without being subjected to the will or authority of any other man; being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Property

Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself. — John Locke

Where there is no property there is no injustice. — John Locke

The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property. — 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 any one shall claim a power to lay and levy taxes on the people by his own authority and without such consent of the people, he thereby invades the fundamental law of property, and subverts the end of government. — John Locke

And thus the community perpetually retains a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of anybody, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish, or so wicked, as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and properties of the subject. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Rational

Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature — John Locke

Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature: these are the spur and reins whereby all mankind are set on work, and guided. — John Locke

So that, in effect, religion, which should most distiguish us from beasts, and ought most peculiarly to elevate us, as rational creatures, above brutes, is that wherein men often appear most irrational and mere senseless than beasts themselves — John Locke

To be rational is so glorious a thing, that two-legged creatures generally content themselves with the title. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Mind

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. — John Locke

A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this World: he that has these two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be little the better for anything else. — John Locke

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

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

Firmness or stiffness of the mind is not from adherence to truth, but submission to prejudice. — John Locke

Reading furnishes the mind only with material for knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours. — John Locke

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

Anger is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of revenge — John Locke

Inuring children gently to suffer some degrees of pain without shrinking, is a way to gain firmness to their minds, and lay a foundation for courage and resolution in the future part of their lives. — John Locke

Reverie is when ideas float in our mind without reflection or regard of the understanding. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Truth

To love our neighbor as ourselves is such a truth for regulating human society, that by that alone one might determine all the cases in social morality. — John Locke

To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues. — John Locke

One unerring mark of the love of truth is not entertaining any proposition with greater assurance than the proofs it is built upon will warrant. — John Locke

The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author; salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure. — John Locke

Where all is but dream, reasoning and arguments are of no use, truth and knowledge nothing. — John Locke

Earthly minds, like mud walls, resist the strongest batteries; and though, perhaps, sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they nevertheless stand firm, keep out the enemy, truth, that would captivate or disturbe them. — John Locke

I am sure, zeal or love for truth can never permit falsehood to be used in the defense of it. — John Locke

Man is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out of the common road. — John Locke

Truth, like gold, is not less so for being newly brought out of the mine. — John Locke

Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About World

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

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 Locke

A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world. — John Locke

In the beginning, all the world was America. — John Locke

The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it, into which a young gentleman should be enter'd by degrees, as he can bear it; and the earlier the better, so he be in safe and skillful hands to guide him. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

For it will be very difficult to persuade men of sense that he who with dry eyes and satisfaction of mind can deliver his brother to the executioner to be burnt alive, does sincerely and heartily concern himself to save that brother from the flames of hell in the world to come. — John Locke

John Locke Quotes About Reading

[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

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

Let not men think there is no truth, but in the sciences that they study, or the books that they read. — John Locke

John Locke Famous Quotes And Sayings

Curiosity in children, is but an appetite for knowledge. The great reason why children abandon themselves wholly to silly pursuits and trifle away their time insipidly is, because they find their curiosity balked, and their inquiries neglected. — John Locke

All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. — John Locke

New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common. — John Locke

[Individuals] have a right to defend themselves and recover by force what by unlawful force is taken from them. — John Locke

The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. — John Locke

We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the color of our moral character, from those who are around us. — John Locke

The reservedness and distance that fathers keep, often deprive their sons of that refuge which would be of more advantage to them than an hundred rebukes or chidings. — John Locke

He that will have his son have respect for him and his orders, must himself have a great reverence for his son. — John Locke

All the entertainment and talk of history is nothing almost but fighting and killing: and the honour and renown that is bestowed on conquerors (who for the most part are but the great butchers of mankind) farther mislead growing youth, who by this means come to think slaughter the laudable business of mankind, and the most heroic of virtues. — John Locke

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

If the innocent honest Man must quietly quit all he has for Peace sake, to him who will lay violent hands upon it, I desire it may be considered what kind of Peace there will be in the World, which consists only in Violence and Rapine; and which is to be maintained only for the benefit of Robbers and Oppressors. — John Locke

It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean. — John Locke

Logic is the anatomy of thought. — John Locke

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

Whoever has used what means he is capable of, for the informing of himself, with a readiness to believe and obey what shall be taught and prescribed by Jesus, his Lord and King, is a true and faithful subject of Christ s kingdom:;; and cannot be thought to fail in any thing necessary to salvation. — John Locke

It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach. — John Locke

If we will disbelieve everything, because we cannot certainly know all things, we shall do much what as wisely as he who would not use his legs, but sit still and perish, because he had no wings to fly. — John Locke

The dread of evil is a much more forcible principle of human actions than the prospect of good. — John Locke

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

To prejudge other men's notions before we have looked into them is not to show their darkness but to put out our own eyes. — John Locke

Laws provide, as much as ispossible that the goods and health of subjects be not injured by the fraud and violence of others. They do not guard them from thenegligence or ill-husbandry of the possessors themselves. — John Locke

How then shall they have the play-games you allow them, if none must be bought for them?" I answer, they should make them themselves, or at least endeavour it, and set themselves about it. ...And if you help them where they are at a stand, it will more endear you to them than any chargeable toys that you shall buy for them. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

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

All men are liable to error; and most men are, in many points, by passion or interest, under temptation to it. — John Locke

The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cannot pass it over to others. The People alone can appoint the Form of the Commonwealth, which is by Constituting the Legislative, and appointing in whose hands that shall be. — John Locke

..every Man has a Property in his own Person. This no Body has any Right to but himself. The Labour of his Body, and the Work of his Hands, we may say, are properly his. .... The great and chief end therefore, of Mens uniting into Commonwealths, and putting themselves under Government, is the Preservation of their Property. — John Locke

In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity. — John Locke

If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands. — John Locke

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

Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of what should be genuine and easy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural. — John Locke

In my opinion, understanding who your target audience is, and what they want, and writing to them (and only them!) is the most important component of being successful as an author. — John Locke

The greatest part of mankind ... are given up to labor, and enslaved to the necessity of their mean condition; whose lives are worn out only in the provisions for living. — John Locke

To give a man full knowledge of morality, I would send him to no other book than the New Testament. — John Locke

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

In short, herein seems to lie the difference between idiots and madmen, that madmen put wrong ideas together, and so make wrong propositions, but argue and reason right from them: but idiots make very few or no propositions, and reason scarce at all. — John Locke

It is labour indeed that puts the difference on everything. — 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

If to break loose from the bounds of reason, and to want that restraint of examination and judgment which keeps us from choosing or doing the worst, be liberty, true liberty, madmen and fools are the only freemen: but yet, I think, nobody would choose to be mad for the sake of such liberty, but he that is mad already. — John Locke

For a man's property is not at all secure, though there be good and equitable laws to set the bounds of it, between him and his fellow subjects, if he who commands those subjects, have power to take from any private man, what part he pleases of his property, and use and dispose of it as he thinks good. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

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

When Fashion hath once Established, what Folly or craft began, Custom makes it Sacred, and 'twill be thought impudence or madness, to contradict or question it. — John Locke

God, when he makes the prophet, does not unmake the man. — John Locke

The works of nature and the works of revelation display religion to mankind in characters so large and visible that those who are not quite blind may in them see and read the first principles and most necessary parts of it and from thence penet into those infinite depths filled with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. — John Locke

If, then, there must be something eternal, let us see what sort of Being it must be. And to that it is very obvious to Reason, that it must necessarily be a cogitative Being. For it is as impossible to conceive that ever bare incogitative Matter should produce a thinking intelligent Being, as that nothing should of itself produce Matter. — John Locke

Curiosity in children ... is but an appetite after knowledge and therefore ought to be encouraged in them, not only as a good sign, but as the great instrument nature has provided to remove that ignorance they were born with and which, without this busy inquisitiveness, will make them dull and useless creatures. — John Locke

We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at in children, who better understand what they see, than what they hear. — John Locke

I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information, and to my rule of conversing with all descriptions of men on those topics that form their own peculiar professions and pursuits. — John Locke

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

Try all things, hold fast that which is good. — John Locke

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. — John Locke

Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little better than good dreams, except they be put in act; and that cannot be without power and place, as the vantage and commanding ground. — John Locke

It is therefore worthwhile, to search out the bounds between opinion and knowledge; and examine by what measures, in things, whereof we have no certain knowledge, we ought to regulate our assent, and moderate our persuasions. — John Locke

Life Lessons by John Locke

1. John Locke believed that humans are born with natural rights and freedoms, and that the government should protect and respect those rights. He also believed that people should be allowed to pursue their own interests and that the government should be limited in its power.
2. Locke argued that knowledge comes from experience and that people should be free to think and form their own opinions. He also believed that people should be tolerant of different opinions and beliefs.
3. Locke believed in the importance of education and personal responsibility, and that individuals should strive to be informed and active citizens in their society.