398 Quotes by John Locke

There cannot be greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse.

The care of souls cannot belong to the civil magistrate.

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.

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

Thirdly, the supreme power cannot take from any man any part of his property without his own consent: for the preservation of property being the end of government, and that for which men enter into society, it necessarily supposes and requires, that the people should have property, without which they must be supposed to lose that, by entering into society, which was the end for which they entered into it; too gross an absurdity for any man to own.

The improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others.

The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have.

Though the water running in the fountain be every ones, yet who can doubt, but that in the pitcher is his only who drew it out?

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