John Locke Quote

"[W]henever the legislators endeavour to take away, and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge, which God hath provided for all men, against force and violence. Whensoever 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 ..."

by:	John Locke (1632-1704) English philosopher and political theorist
Source:	Second Treatise of Civil Government [1690] http://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm
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Categories:	America, Authority, Conscience, Duty, Emancipation, Government, Individual Rights, Justice, Law, Obedience, Power, Society, Tyranny, War
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WOW ! ! ! that I could rate this quote with 10 stars an innumerable times, it would not be enough. Knowing that the founders quoted Locke, second only to the Bible, gives an absolute basis for the lawful identity of the representative republic - that was to be. Locke was quoted sufficiently to coin the phrase, "we hold these truths to be self evident" Thank you editor.  -- Mike, Norwalk      4
Mike said it better than I can.  -- jim k, Austin,Tx      2
Well said Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  -- cal, lewisville, tx      2
Excellent!! Each of us should have this memorized.  -- E Archer, NYC      3
Indeed, just look at the last 10 years - they have broken every conceivable law - 1933 was when the starting gun was fired. John Locke and George Berkeley what a duo. "Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist" GB  -- RBESRQ      3
This quote has similar meaning of a statement from Our Declaration, "...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." When the government ignores the fundamental rights of the individual citizen and assumes more power than that which was consented by the governed, it is the right of the People to alter or abolish it and restore it to the purpose of establishing justice and securing the blessings of liberty. Actually, it is more than just Our right, its Our duty. If we falter in this sacred responsibility, we will suffer for it until our deaths and children will suffer their entire lives. The usurpation will continue until another Founding Generation is enlightened by the Almighty with the wisdom and strength necessary to once again make this the land of liberty and justice. "Duty is ours, results are Gods." Lets do Our duty, and pray that God gives pleasing results.  -- Publius      4
Share far and wide, this better than any other explanation tells what our Constitution really is. Lets pray there are enough Patriots left to restore what has been stolen from us.  -- William V. Wood, Shepherd, MI      4
" So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? " Isaiah. with that being said, " But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you." Paul our apostle. Liberty, Freedom are well defined measures on that said Ruler. God Bless and Semper Fi  -- Ronw13, OR      2
We must recalibrate our day-to-day mission to survive; we must put in place instruments that will overcome our servitude — not just provide comfortable rhetoric for our friends. We must wake from our slumber of indifference, from our apathy, from our lack of action — it's deeds we now want. Enough of religion and words — we are in a continual life of war, suffering, hunger, and fear, yet how do we effect change? how do we stop this runaway train with all our hopes and loved ones onboard from total destruction? We need heroes to come forward and show us the way; we need the candlestick maker to put down his apron and take on the power within us all.   -- Robert, somewhere in the USA
-- Robert, somewhere in the USA
The basic idea of a Representative Republic. What the US is supposed to be.  -- James, Colorado Springs      2
Whatever. My property is my thoughts, feelings, ideas that cure the legislative personnel of their mental disabilities and disorders. My property becomes a communal and social possession if it is authentically valuable. The childish baubles and trinkets get left back in my childhood. Adults, reveal in their efforts, the communal property, proprieties and treasures of the universe.  -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown      1

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