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There is not so contemptible a plant or animal that does not confound the most enlarged understanding.

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
Plant
Animal
Understanding
Nature
Doe
Confound
Enlarged
Contemptible

More quotes by John Locke

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Children have as much mind to show that they are free, that their own good actions come from themselves, that they are absolute and independent, as any of the proudest of you grown men, think of them as you please.
John Locke
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Certainly great persons had need to borrow other men's opinions to think themselves happy for if they judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it: but if they think with themselves what other men think of them, and that other men would fain be as they are, then they are happy as it were by report, when, perhaps, they find the contrary within.
John Locke
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Reason is natural revelation, whereby the eternal father of light, and fountain of all knowledge, communicates to mankind that portion of truth which he has laid within the reach of their natural faculties: revelation is natural reason enlarged by a new set of discoveries communicated by God. . . .
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Firmness or stiffness of the mind is not from adherence to truth, but submission to prejudice.
John Locke
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False and doubtful positions, relied upon as unquestionable maxims, keep those who build on them in the dark from truth. Such are usually the prejudices imbibed from education, party, reverence, fashion, interest, et cetera.
John Locke
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To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.
John Locke
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In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity.
John Locke
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If any one shall claim a power to lay and levy taxes on the people by his own authority and without such consent of the people, he thereby invades the fundamental law of property, and subverts the end of government.
John Locke
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Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.
John Locke
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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.
John Locke
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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.
John Locke
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To give a man full knowledge of morality, I would send him to no other book than the New Testament.
John Locke
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For a man's property is not at all secure, though there be good and equitable laws to set the bounds of it, between him and his fellow subjects, if he who commands those subjects, have power to take from any private man, what part he pleases of his property, and use and dispose of it as he thinks good.
John Locke
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A king is a mortal god on earth, unto whom the living God hath lent his own name as a great honour but withal told him, he should die like a man, lest he should be proud, and flatter himself that God hath with his name imparted unto him his nature also.
John Locke
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It is labour indeed that puts the difference on everything.
John Locke
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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
John Locke
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The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.
John Locke
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Neither the inveterateness of the mischief, nor the prevalency of the fashion, shall be any excuse for those who will not take care about the meaning of their own words, and will not suffer the insignificancy of their expressions to be inquired into.
John Locke
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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.
John Locke
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Crooked things may be as stiff and unflexible as streight: and Men may be as positive and peremptory in Error as in Truth.
John Locke