John Locke

1632–1704 · English philosopher and physician

Topics: learning, mathematics

• It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.

  — John Locke

• 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

• No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience.

  — John Locke

• He that uses his words loosely and unsteadily will either not be minded or not understood.

  — John Locke

• The boundaries of the species, whereby men sort them, are made by men.

  — John Locke

• 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

• New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.

  — John Locke

• He that would seriously set upon the search of truth, ought in the first place to prepare his mind with a love of it. For he that loves it not, will not take much pains to get it; nor be much concerned when he misses it.

  — John Locke

• I doubt not, but from self-evident Propositions, by necessary Consequences, as incontestable as those in Mathematics, the measures of right and wrong might be made out.

  — John Locke

• He that knows anything, knows this, in the first place, that he need not seek long for instances of his ignorance.

  — John Locke