John Locke

Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves poison the fountain.

The improvement of the understanding is for two ends: first, for our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others.

That which is good, we call good; and that which is evil, we call evil.

The great art of teaching is to awaken the curiosity of the pupil.

Virtue is harder to be got than a knowledge of the world.

The mind, by being open to conviction, and ready to embrace truth for its own sake, has a free use of its faculties, and a fair opportunity of attaining to a great perfection.

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.

It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.

The Bible is a book of faith, and not of science.

God gave the world to men in common; but since he gave them reason to make use of it to the best advantage of life, and convenience, it cannot be supposed he meant it should always remain common and uncultivated.

The necessity of believing, without a perfect comprehension, is a great part of the discipline of the mind.

The chief business of the senses is to inform the mind of what passes without.

The strength of a man's mind is only to be estimated by the weight of the truths it can contain.

The love of truth is the first step towards wisdom.

The only security against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.

The common reason of mankind, which is the law of nature, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.

God, when he gave the world to men in common, commanded man also to labour, and the penury of his condition required it of him.

All men are naturally in a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.

The great question which, in all ages, has disturbed mankind, and brought on them the greatest part of their mischiefs... has been, not whether there be power in the world, nor whence it came, but who should have it.

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.