European History Figures & Events
Learn about the most significant figures and events of European History from the fall of the Roman Empire to the present. Discover the milestones that shaped Europe as we know it today and the people who made them happen.
English philosopher John Locke (1632—1704) is remembered as the father of empiricism and as one of the earliest champions of the idea that all people enjoy certain natural rights. In areas including government, education, and religion, John Locke quotes helped inspire momentous events like the Age of Enlightenment and England’s Glorious Revolution, as well as the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War, and Constitution of the United States.
John Locke on Government and Politics
“Government has no other end than the preservation of property.”
“… tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right …”
“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.”
“New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not common.”
“Men being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.”
“As if when men, quitting the state of Nature, entered into society, they agreed that all of them but one should be under the restraint of laws; but that he should still retain all the liberty of the state of Nature, increased with power, and made licentious by impunity.”
“But there is only one thing which gathers people into seditious commotion, and that is oppression.”
“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings, capable of laws, where there is no law there is no freedom.”
“The Indians, whom we call barbarous, observe much more decency and civility in their discourses and conversation, giving one another a fair silent hearing till they have quite done; and then answering them calmly, and without noise or passion.”
“The great question which, in all ages, has disturbed mankind, and brought on them the greatest part of their mischiefs … has been, not whether be power in the world, nor whence it came, but who should have it.”
“And because it may be too great a temptation to human frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons, who have the power of making laws, to have also in their hands the power to execute them …”
“… no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.”
“This is to think that men are so foolish that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them by polecats or foxes, but are content, nay, think it safety, to be devoured by lions.”
“Revolt is the right of the people.”