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
Words, in their primary or immediate signification, stand for nothing but the ideas in the mind of him who uses them.
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.
Children generally hate to be idle; all the care then is that their busy humour should be constantly employed in something of use to them
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.
Though the familiar use of things about us take off our wonder, yet it cures not our ignorance.
Where danger shews it self, apprehension cannot, without stupidity, be wanting; where danger is, sense of danger should be; and so much fear as should keep us awake, and excite our attention, industry, and vigour; but not to disturb the calm use of our reason, nor hinder the execution of what that dictates.
I am sure, zeal or love for truth can never permit falsehood to be used in the defense of it.
I find every sect, as far as reason will help them, make use of it gladly: and where it fails them, they cry out, It is a matter of faith, and above reason.
He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.
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.
Where all is but dream, reasoning and arguments are of no use, truth and knowledge nothing.
If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.
How long have you been holding those words in your head, hoping to use them?
He that uses his words loosely and unsteadily will either not be minded or not understood.