What John Locke thinks about government

@john-locke · 31 positions · On ppll ↗

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.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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6 dated positions, c. 1689–1690, in their own words. Our reading of what John Locke has said — not written or endorsed by them.

1. c. 1689–1690

   Our readingAbsolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society and is no form of civil government

   Their wordsHence it is evident, that absolute monarchy, which by some men is counted the only government in the world, is indeed inconsistent with civil society, and so can be no form of civil-government at all

   ↗Second Treatise of Government (1690)gutenberg.org All 25 from this book

3. c. 1689–1690

   Our readingAnyone who holds or enjoys any part of a government's territory gives tacit consent to its laws

   Their wordsAnd to this I say, that every man, that hath any possessions, or enjoyment, of any part of the dominions of any government, doth thereby give his tacit consent, and is as far forth obliged to obedience to the laws of that government, during such enjoyment, as any one under it

   ↗Second Treatise of Government (1690)gutenberg.org All 25 from this book

5. c. 1689–1690

   Our readingThe chief end of forming governments is the preservation of property

   Their wordsThe great and chief end, therefore, of men’s uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property.

   ↗Second Treatise of Government (1690)gutenberg.org All 25 from this book

7. c. 1689–1690

   Our readingThe government cannot take any part of someone's property without his own consent

   Their wordsThirdly, The supreme power cannot take from any man any part of his property without his own consent

   ↗Second Treatise of Government (1690)gutenberg.org All 25 from this book

9. c. 1689–1690

   Our readingConquest can destroy a government but can never set up a new one without the people's consent

   Their wordsBut conquest is as far from setting up any government, as demolishing an house is from building a new one in the place. Indeed, it often makes way for a new frame of a commonwealth, by destroying the former; but, without the consent of the people, can never erect a new one.

   ↗Second Treatise of Government (1690)gutenberg.org All 25 from this book

11. c. 1689–1690

    Our readingWhen a long train of abuses makes a ruler's design visible, people can be expected to rouse themselves and change who governs

    design

    Their wordsBut if a long train of abuses, prevarications and artifices, all tending the same way, make the design visible to the people, and they cannot but feel what they lie under, and see whither they are going; it is not to be wondered, that they should then rouze themselves, and endeavour to put the rule into such hands which may secure to them the ends for which government was at first erected

    ↗Second Treatise of Government (1690)gutenberg.org All 25 from this book