John Locke Quotes on Liberty & Freedom (6 Quotes)

Man... hath by nature a power.... to preserve his property - that is, his life, liberty, and estate - against the injuries and attempts of other men.

Freedom of men under government is to have a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society, and made by the legislative power vested in it a liberty to follow my own will in all things, when the rule prescribes not, and not to be subject to the inconstant, unknown, arbitrary will of another man.

Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others

All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

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 law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.

Though I have said above.... That all men by Nature are equal, I cannot be supposed to understand all sorts of Equality Age or Virtue may give Men a just Precedency Excellency of Parts and Merit may place others above the common level Birth may subject some, and Alliance or Benefits others, to pay an Observance to those to whom Nature, Gratitude or other Respects may have made it due and yet all this consists with the Equality which all men are in, in respect of Jurisdiction or Dominion one over another, which was the Equality I there spoke of ... being that equal Right that every Man hath, to his natural Freedom, without being subjected to the Will or Authority of any other Man.