What John Locke thinks about ambition
English philosopher (1632 to 1704); Oxford academic and medical researcher; author of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and the Second Treatise of Government.
John Locke did not write this page.
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Only John Locke on ambition. See everyone on ambition
1 dated position, c. 1689–1690, in their own words. Our reading of what John Locke has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Their wordsWhensoever 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 their hands for quite contrary ends, and it devolves to the people, who have a right to resume their original liberty
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