Where there is no law there is no freedom.
Tag: John Locke
(1632-1704) English philosopher and political theorist.
Equality through freedom
All men by nature are equal in that equal right that every man hath to his natural freedom, without being subjected to the will or authority of any other man; being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.
Delegation of powers
The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.
Virtue
Virtue is harder to be got than a knowledge of the world; and, if lost in a young man, is seldom recovered.
When government declares war on its people
… whenever 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 … [Power then] devolves to the People, who have a Right to resume their original Liberty, and, by the Establishment of a new Legislative (such as they shall think fit) provide for their own Safety and Security, which is the end for which they are in Society.
Government must protect property
Government has no other end than the preservation of property.