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A man may live long, and die at last in ignorance of many truths, which his mind was capable of knowing, and that with certainty.

John Locke

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John Locke
Age: 72 †
Born: 1632
Born: August 29
Died: 1704
Died: October 28
Philosopher
Physician
Politician
Writer
Wrington
Somerset
Mind
Knowing
Men
Dies
Lasts
Last
May
Truths
Live
Certainty
Many
Ignorance
Long
Capable

More quotes by John Locke

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When ideas float in our mind, without any reflection or regard of the understanding, it is that which the French call reverie.
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Whosoever will list himself under the banner of Christ, must, in the first place and above all things, make war upon his own lusts and vices. It is in vain for any man to usurp the name of Christian, without holiness of life, purity of manners, benignity and meekness of spirit.
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Where there is no desire, there will be no industry.
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Those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all.
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General observations drawn from particulars are the jewels of knowledge, comprehending great store in a little room but they are therefore to be made with the greater care and caution, lest, if we take counterfeit for true, our loss and shame be the greater when our stock comes to a severe scrutiny.
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Men in great place are thrice servants servants of the sovereign state, servants of fame, and servants of business so as they have no freedom, neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in their times. It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.
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The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For it being but a delegated Power from the People, they who have it, cannot pass it over to others. The People alone can appoint the Form of the Commonwealth, which is by Constituting the Legislative, and appointing in whose hands that shall be.
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Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true.
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Many a good poetic vein is buried under a trade, and never produces any thing for want of improvement.
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As usurpation is the exercise of power which another has a right to, so tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, which nobody can have a right to.
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Men's happiness or misery is [for the] most part of their own making.
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It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.
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This is to think, that men are so foolish, that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them by pole-cats, or foxes but are content, nay, think it safety, to be devoured by lions.
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Things of this world are in so constant a flux, that nothing remains long in the same state.
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It is one thing to persuade, another to command one thing to press with arguments, another with penalties.
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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.
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Success in fighting means not coming at your opponent the way he wants to fight you.
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Mathematical proofs, like diamonds, are hard and clear, and will be touched with nothing but strict reasoning.
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The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.
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Defects and weakness in men's understandings, as well as other faculties, come from want of a right use of their own minds I am apt to think, the fault is generally mislaid upon nature, and there is often a complaint of want of parts, when the fault lies in want of a due improvement of them.
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