John Locke Quotes - 3 quotes

John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers. He was born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset, England. Locke is often called the "Father of Liberalism". Locke's major works include "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" and "Two Treatises of Government". In his essay, he developed his theory of ideas and argued against the existence of innate ideas, proposing that all human knowledge comes from experience. His political theory, presented in the "Two Treatises," advocated for the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, and the idea of government by the consent of the governed. Locke's ideas had a profound impact on the development of modern political philosophy and influenced the American Revolution and the drafting of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. He passed away on October 28, 1704, in High Laver, Essex. His legacy continues to shape political thought and democratic principles.

quote icon The State of Nature has a Law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: And Reason, which is that Law, teaches all Mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty, or Possessions.

- John Locke

quote icon The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.

- John Locke

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quote icon The state of war is a state of enmity and destruction; and therefore declaring by word or action, not a passionate and hasty, but sedate, settled design upon another man's life puts him in a state of war with him against whom he has declared such an intention, and so has exposed his life to the other's power to be taken away by him, or any one that joins with him in his defence, and espouses his quarrel; it being reasonable and just I should have a right to destroy that which threatens me with destruction; for by the fundamental law of Nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred, and one may destroy a man who makes war upon him ... And hence it is that he who attempts to get another man into his absolute power does thereby put himself into a state of war with him; it being to be understood as a declaration of a design upon his life. For I have reason to conclude that he who would get me into his power without my consent would use me as he pleased when he had got me there, and destroy me too when he had a fancy to it; for nobody can desire to have me in his absolute power unless it be to compel me by force to that which is against the right of my freedom- i.e. make me a slave. To be free from such force is the only security of my preservation, and reason bids me look on him as an enemy to my preservation who would take away that freedom which is the fence to it; so that he who makes an attempt to enslave me thereby puts himself into a state of war with me. He that in the state of Nature would take away the freedom that belongs to any one in that state must necessarily be supposed to have a design to take away everything else, that freedom being the foundation of all the rest; as he that in the state of society would take away the freedom belonging to those of that society or commonwealth must be supposed to design to take away from them everything else, and so be looked on as in a state of war.

- John Locke

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