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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.

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
Men
Foolish
Mischiefs
Think
Content
Devoured
Thinking
Avoid
Pole
Safety
Mischief
Care
Foxes
May
Lions
Take
Cats
Done
Cat

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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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Is it worth the name of freedom to be at liberty to play the fool?
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Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature
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We are born with faculties and powers capable almost of anything, such at least as would carry us farther than can easily be imagined: but it is only the exercise of those powers, which gives us ability and skill in any thing, and leads us towards perfection.
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I am sure, zeal or love for truth can never permit falsehood to be used in the defense of it.
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It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.
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I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
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You shall find, that there cannot be a greater spur to the attaining what you would have the eldest learn, and know himself, than to set him upon teaching it his younger brothers and sisters.
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The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.
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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.
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Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.
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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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The only thing we are naturally afraid of is pain, or loss of pleasure. And because these are not annexed to any shape, colour, or size of visible objects, we are frighted of none of them, till either we have felt pain from them, or have notions put into us that they will do us harm.
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The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it, into which a young gentleman should be enter'd by degrees, as he can bear it and the earlier the better, so he be in safe and skillful hands to guide him.
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How then shall they have the play-games you allow them, if none must be bought for them? I answer, they should make them themselves, or at least endeavour it, and set themselves about it. ...And if you help them where they are at a stand, it will more endear you to them than any chargeable toys that you shall buy for them.
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Struggle is nature's way of strengthening it
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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 greatest part of mankind ... are given up to labor, and enslaved to the necessity of their mean condition whose lives are worn out only in the provisions for living.
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The mind is furnished with ideas by experience alone
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