JOHN LOCKE QUOTES IV

English philosopher (1632-1704)

The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall: but in charity there is no excess, neither can angel nor man come in danger by it.

JOHN LOCKE

"Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature", The Conduct of the Understanding: Essays, Moral, Economical, and Political


The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have, and therefore should be secured, because they seldom return again.

JOHN LOCKE

letter to Mr. Samuel Bold, May 16, 1699

Tags: thought


Religion, which should most distinguish us from the beasts, and ought most particularly elevate us, as rational creatures, above brutes, is that wherein men often appear most irrational, and more senseless than beasts.

JOHN LOCKE

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Tags: religion


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

JOHN LOCKE

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding


The chief art of learning is to attempt but a little at a time.

JOHN LOCKE

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: learning


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

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Tags: pain


Moral laws are set as a curb and restraint to these exorbitant desires, which they cannot be but by rewards and punishments, that will over-balance the satisfaction any one shall propose to himself in the breach of the law.

JOHN LOCKE

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding


This also shows wherein the identity of the same man consists, viz. in participation of the same continued life by particles of matter successively united to the same organized body.

JOHN LOCKE

Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding

Tags: identity


The necessity of believing without knowledge, nay often upon very slight grounds, in this fleeting state of action and blindness we are in, should make us more busy and careful to inform ourselves than constrain others.

JOHN LOCKE

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Tags: belief


And because it may be too great a temptation to human frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons, who have the power of making laws, to have also in their hands the power to execute them, whereby they may exempt themselves from obedience to the laws they make, and suit the law, both in its making, and execution, to their own private advantage.

JOHN LOCKE

Second Treatise of Civil Government


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

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education


Children should from the beginning be bred up in an abhorrence of killing or tormenting any living creature; and be taught not to spoil or destroy any thing, unless it be for the preservation or advantage of some other that is nobler.

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education


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.

JOHN LOCKE

"Of Great Place", The Conduct of the Understanding: Essays, Moral, Economical, and Political


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

JOHN LOCKE

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding


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

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Tags: respect


Knowledge is grateful to the understanding, as light to the eyes.

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Tags: understanding


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 laudible business of mankind, and the most heroic of virtues.

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Tags: war


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

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Tags: knowledge


Men in great fortunes are strangers to themselves, and while they are in the puzzle of business, they have no time to tend their health either of body or mind.

JOHN LOCKE

"Of Great Place", The Conduct of the Understanding: Essays, Moral, Economical, and Political


Some men are remarked for pleasantness in raillery; others for apologues and apposite diverting stories. This is apt to be taken for the effect of pure nature, and that the rather, because it is not got by rules, and those who excel in either of them, never purposely set themselves to the study of it, as an art to be learnt. But yet it is true, that at first some lucky hit, which took with somebody, and gained him commendation, encouraged him to try again, inclined his thoughts and endeavours that way, till at last he insensibly got a facility in it, without perceiving how; and that is attributed wholly to nature, which was much more the effect of use and practice.

JOHN LOCKE

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding