Some eyes want spectacles to see things clearly and distinctly: but let not those that use them therefore say nobody can see clearly without them. John Locke More Quotes by John Locke More Quotes From John Locke So difficult it is to show the various meanings and imperfections of words when we have nothing else but words to do it with. John Locke difficultimperfectionwriting Any one reflecting upon the thought he has of the delight, which any present or absent thing is apt to produce in him, has the idea we call love. John Locke reflecting-upondelightideas Try all things, hold fast that which is good. John Locke biblicalall-thingstrying 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 catmenthinking When the sacredness of property is talked of, it should be remembered that any such sacredness does not belong in the same degree to landed property. John Locke degreesshoulddoe The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have. John Locke mindideasthinking There is not so contemptible a plant or animal that does not confound the most enlarged understanding. John Locke understandingnatureanimal If the Gospel and the Apostles may be credited, no man can be a Christian without charity, and without that faith which works, not by force, but by love. John Locke charitychristianmen Mathematical proofs, like diamonds, are hard and clear, and will be touched with nothing but strict reasoning. John Locke proofdiamondmath The acts of the mind, wherein it exerts its power over simple ideas, are chiefly these three: 1. Combining several simple ideas into one compound one, and thus all complex ideas are made. 2. The second is bringing two ideas, whether simple or complex, together, and setting them by one another so as to take a view of them at once, without uniting them into one, by which it gets all its ideas of relations. 3. The third is separating them from all other ideas that accompany them in their real existence: this is called abstraction, and thus all its general ideas are made. John Locke realsimpleviews It is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way to knowledge. John Locke ambitionlittleslying Curiosity should be as carefully cherish'd in children, as other appetites suppress'd. John Locke cherishcuriositychildren Brutes abstract not. -- If it may be doubted, whether beasts compound and enlarge their ideas, that way, to any degree; this, I think, I may be positive in, that the power of abstracting is not at all in them; and that the having of general ideas is that which puts a perfect distinction betwixt man and brutes, and is an excellency which the faculties of brutes do by no means attain to. John Locke menmeanthinking He that denies any of the doctrines that Christ has delivered, to be true, denies him to be sent from God, and consequently to be the Messiah; and so ceases to be a Christian. John Locke doctrinedenychristian Though the familiar use of things about us take off our wonder, yet it cures not our ignorance. John Locke ignoranceusewonder I have spent more than half a lifetime trying to express the tragic moment. John Locke momentshalftrying Action is the great business of mankind, and the whole matter about which all laws are conversant. John Locke matterlawaction Consciousness is the perception of what passes in man's own mind. John Locke perceptionmindmen Whensoever, therefore, the legislative shall transgress this fundamental rule of society, and either by ambition, fear, folly, or corruption, endeavour to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other, an absolute power over the lives, liberties, and estates of the people, by this breach of trust they forfeit the power the people had put into the hands... and it devolves to the people, who have a right to resume their original liberty, and... provide for their own safety and security. John Locke ambitionhandspeople Our deeds disguise us. People need endless time to try on their deeds, until each knows the proper deeds for him to do. But every day, every hour, rushes by. There is no time. John Locke endless-timetryingpeople
