John Locke Quotes

Philosopher

John Locke (August 29, 1632 - October 28, 1704) was an English philosopher, political theorist, and physician, considered one of the most influential figures of the Enlightenment. His ideas have had a profound impact on political philosophy, ethics, and epistemology.

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Famous John Locke Quotes

“Vague and mysterious forms of speech, and abuse of language, have so long passed for mysteries of science; and hard or misapplied words with little or no meaning have, by prescription, such a right to be mistaken for deep learning and height of speculation, that it will not be easy to persuade either those who speak or those who hear them, that they are but the covers of ignorance and hindrance of true knowledge.”

Littles Long Hard Form Speak Language Easy Knowledge Mystery Ignorance Speech Abuse Mysterious Height Vague Mistaken Speculation Prescriptions Hindrance True Knowledge Deep Learning

Author:John Locke

“The Commonwealth of Learning is not at this time without Master-Builders, whose mighty Designs, in advancing the Sciences, will leave lasting Monuments to the Admiration of Posterity; But every one must not hope to be a Boyle, or a Sydenham; and in an Age that produces such Masters, as the Great-Huygenius, and the incomparable Mr. Newton, with some other of that Strain; 'tis Ambition enough to be employed as an Under-Labourer in clearing Ground a little, and removing some of the Rubbish, that lies in the way to Knowledge.”

Source: The Works of John Locke: Philosophical Works, with a Preliminary Essay and Notes by J. A. St. John

“The great art to learn much is to undertake a little at a time.”

Littles Art Great Art

Author:John Locke

“Till a man can judge whether they be truths or not, his understanding is but little improved, and thus men of much reading, though greatly learned, but may be little knowing.”

Men May Littles Reading Understanding Knowing Judging Judgement

Author:John Locke

“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.”

Ifs Littles Made Care Loss Rooms Greater Shame Stores Observation Severe Jewels Caution Scrutiny Counterfeit Comprehending

Book:An essay concerning human understanding ... The twentieth edition, etc

Source: An essay concerning human understanding ... The twentieth edition, etc

“It is reported of that prodigy of parts, Monsieur Pascal, that till the decay of his health had impaired his memory, he forgot nothing of what he had done, read, or thought, in any part of his rational age. This is a privilege so little known to most men, that it seems almost incredible to those who, after the ordinary way, measure all others by themselves; but yet, when considered, may help us to enlarge our thoughts towards greater perfections of it, in superior ranks of spirits.”

Source: The Philosophical Works of John Locke

“The chief art of learning is to attempt but a little at a time.”

Littles Art Learning Chiefs

Author:John Locke

“Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little better than good dreams, except they be put in act; and that cannot be without power and place, as the vantage and commanding ground.”

Men Littles Dream Accepting Good Thoughts Good Dream

Book:The Conduct of the Understanding. By J. Locke ... Essays ... By Lord Bacon. With Sketches of the Lives of Locke and Bacon

Source: The Conduct of the Understanding. By J. Locke ... Essays ... By Lord Bacon. With Sketches of the Lives of Locke and Bacon

“Man is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out of the common road.”

Men Littles Common Censure

Book:An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author

Source: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: An analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of ideas .... A defense of Mr. Locke's Opinion concerning personal identity .... A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentleman. Elements of natural philosophy. A new method of a common place book. Extracted from the author's works. With a life of the author

“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.”

Way Littles Enough Lying Ambition Employed Rubbish Clearing Labourers

Book:An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Source: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

“Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter waters, when they themselves have poison'd the fountain.”

Children Littles Parent Water Wonder Principles Taste Bitter Poison Fountain

Book:Locke, Berkely & Hume

Source: Locke, Berkely & Hume

“For those who either perceive but dully, or retain the ideas that come into their minds but ill, who cannot readily excite or compound them, will have little matter to think on.”

Thinking Mind Littles Ideas Matter Ill Perceive Compounds

Book:Locke's essays. An essay concerning human understanding. And A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. With the author's last additions

Source: Locke's essays. An essay concerning human understanding. And A treatise on the conduct of the understanding. With the author's last additions