John Locke Quotes About Knowledge

Quotes about: Knowledge

• Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.

  John Locke

  Inspirational, Motivational, Education

  John Locke (1824). “The Works of John Locke: Essay concerning human understanding (concluded) Defence of Mr. Locke's opinion concerning personal identity. Of the conduct of the understanding. Some thoughts concerning reading and study for a gentlemen. Elements of natural philosophy. New method of a common-place-book”, p.356

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

  John Locke

  Philosophical, Knowledge, Science

  'An Essay concerning Human Understanding' (1690) bk. 2, ch. 1, sect. 19

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

  John Locke

  Education, Knowledge, Two

  "The works of John Locke. To which is added the life of the author and a collection of several of his pieces, publ. by mr. Desmaizeaux".

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

  John Locke

  Education, Wisdom, Philosophical

  Some Thoughts Concerning Education sec. 88 (1693)

• Logic is the anatomy of thought.

  John Locke

  Education, Knowledge, Math

• Vague and mysterious forms of speech, and abuse of language, have so long passed for mysteries of science; and hard or misapplied words with little or no meaning have, by prescription, such a right to be mistaken for deep learning and height of speculation, that it will not be easy to persuade either those who speak or those who hear them, that they are but the covers of ignorance and hindrance of true knowledge.

  John Locke

  Ignorance, Knowledge, Long

• The Commonwealth of Learning is not at this time without Master-Builders, whose mighty Designs, in advancing the Sciences, will leave lasting Monuments to the Admiration of Posterity; But every one must not hope to be a Boyle, or a Sydenham; and in an Age that produces such Masters, as the Great-Huygenius, and the incomparable Mr. Newton, with some other of that Strain; 'tis Ambition enough to be employed as an Under-Labourer in clearing Ground a little, and removing some of the Rubbish, that lies in the way to Knowledge.

  John Locke

  Lying, Learning, Ambition

  John Locke (1854). “The Works of John Locke: Philosophical Works, with a Preliminary Essay and Notes by J. A. St. John”, p.121

• From whence it is obvious to conclude that, since our Faculties are not fitted to penetrate into the internal Fabrick and real Essences of Bodies; but yet plainly discover to us the Being of a GOD, and the Knowledge of our selves, enough to lead us into a full and clear discovery of our Duty, and great Concernment, it will become us, as rational Creatures, to imploy those Faculties we have about what they are most adapted to, and follow the direction of Nature, where it seems to point us out the way.

  John Locke

  God, Real, Knowledge

  John Locke (1721). “An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (Complete)”, p.714, Library of Alexandria

• Let us suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience.

  John Locke

  Knowledge, Character, Science

  An Essay Concerning Human Understanding bk. 2, ch. 1, sec. 2 (1690)

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