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John Locke

John Locke Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous John Locke Quotes

“As children's inquiries are not to be slighted, so also great care is to be taken, that they never receive deceitful and illuding answers. They easily perceive when they are slighted or deceived, and quickly learn the trick of neglect, dissimulation, and falsehood, which they observe others to make use of. We are not to intrench upon truth in any conversation, but least of all with children; since, if we play false with them, we not only deceive their expectation, and hinder their knowledge, but corrupt their innocence, and teach them the worst of vices.”

IfsChildrenPlayUseCareAnswersTeachTakenTeachingWorstConversationExpectationsVicesTricksInnocencePerceiveNeglectFalsehoodDeceivingInquiryDeceivedHinderDeceitfulSlighted
Book:Some Thoughts Concerning Education: (Including Of the Conduct of the Understanding)
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“Let the awe [the teacher] has upon [children's] minds be so tempered with the constant marks of tenderness and good will, that affection may spur them to their duty, and make them find a pleasure in complying with his dictates. This will bring them with satisfaction to their tutor; make them hearken to him, as to one who is their friend, that cherishes them, and takes pains for their good; this will keep their thoughts easy and free, whilst they are with him, the only temper wherein the mind is capable of receiving new information, and of admitting into itself those impressions.”

MindMayChildrenPainEasyPleasureTeacherTeachingInformationDutyCapableMarkConstantAffectionSatisfactionImpressionAweCherishTemperReceivingTendernessGood WillSpursAdmittingTutorNew InformationComplying
Book:Locke, Berkely & Hume
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“Since nothing appears to me to give Children so much becoming Confidence and Behavior, and so raise them to the conversation of those above their Age, as Dancing. I think they should be taught to dance as soon as they are capable of learning it.”

ThinkingGivingShouldChildrenAgeTaughtBecomingConversationBehaviorCapableRaisesDancingBallet
Book:Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding
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“The tendency to cruelty should be watched in children and if they incline to any such cruelty, they should be taught the contrary usage. For the custom of tormenting and killing other animals will, by degrees, harden their hearts even toward man. Children should from the beginning, be brought up in an abhorrence of killing or tormenting living beings.”

IfsMenShouldHeartChildrenAnimalTaughtDegreesKillingContraryCrueltyTendenciesCustomsUsageInclineAbhorrenceKilling Others
Author:John Locke
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“Curiosity in children ... is but an appetite after knowledge and therefore ought to be encouraged in them, not only as a good sign, but as the great instrument nature has provided to remove that ignorance they were born with and which, without this busy inquisitiveness, will make them dull and useless creatures.”

ChildrenBornIgnoranceOughtCreaturesInstrumentsCuriosityBusyUselessDullRemoveAppetiteBe Encouraged
Book:Some Thoughts Concerning Education: (Including Of the Conduct of the Understanding)
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“The native and untaught suggestions of inquisitive children do often offer things, that may set a considering man's thoughts on work. And I think there is frequently more to be learn'd from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men, who talk in a road, according to the notions they have borrowed, and the prejudices of their education.”

ThinkingMenMayChildrenOffersPrejudiceNotionNativeUnexpectedConsideringSuggestionsDiscourseBorrowedInquisitive
Book:Locke, Berkely & Hume
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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.”

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Book:Some Thoughts Concerning Education: And, Of the Conduct of the Understanding
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“The first step to get this noble and manly steadiness, is... carefully keep children from frights of all kinds, when they are young. ...Instances of such who in a weak timorous mind, have borne, all their whole lives through, the effects of a fright when they were young, are every where to be seen, and therefore as much as may be to be prevented.”

MindFirstsKindMayChildrenWholeYoungStepsEffectsWeakNobleWhole LifeAll KindsInstanceFirst StepsManlyFrightSteadiness
Book:The works of John Locke ...
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“Long discourses, and philosophical readings, at best, amaze and confound, but do not instruct children. When I say, therefore, that they must be treated as rational creatures, I mean that you must make them sensible, by the mildness of your carriage, and in the composure even in the correction of them, that what you do is reasonable in you, and useful and necessary for them; and that it is not out of caprichio, passion or fancy, that you command or forbid them any thing.”

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Author:John Locke
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“Reason, if consulted with, would advise, that their children's time should be spent in acquiring what might be useful to them when they come to be men, rather than to have their heads stuff'd with a deal of trash, a great part whereof they usually never do ('tis certain they never need to) think on again as long as they live: and so much of it as does stick by them they are only the worse for.”

IfsThinkingMenNeedsShouldChildrenLongDoeReasonMightCertainStuffDealsSticksTrashAdviseBe A Man
Book:Locke, Berkely and Hume
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