John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRSwas an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism". Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Sir Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social contract theory. His work greatly affected the development of epistemology and political philosophy. His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American revolutionaries. His contributions...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth29 August 1632
All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.
The discipline of desire is the background of character.
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.
Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.
Logic is the anatomy of thought.
The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.
It is one thing to persuade, another to command; one thing to press with arguments, another with penalties.
Every man carries about him a touchstone, if he will make use of it, to distinguish substantial gold from superficial glitterings, truth from appearances. And indeed the use and benefit of this touchstone, which is natural reason, is spoiled and lost only by assuming prejudices, overweening presumption, and narrowing our minds.
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him.
Who lies for you will lie against you.
I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
Revolt is the right of the people
Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.