The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths and putting themselves under government is the preservation of their property.

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

Buy the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Amazon Buy the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Amazon
Read the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Purpose of government Property rights Political theory Politics

Author

John Locke

Source

Second Treatise of Civil Government Two Treatises of Government

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1690 1690s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Locke, John. "Second Treatise of Civil Government." Two Treatises of Government. London: Awnsham Churchill, 1690, ch. 9, sect. 124.

Current Citation

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Civil Government, edited by C. B. Macpherson. Hackett Publishing Company, 1980, ch. 9, sect. 124.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by John Locke about purpose of government: “The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths…”
Download
A quote by John Locke about purpose of government: “The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths…”
Download
A quote by John Locke about purpose of government: “The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by John Locke

Where-ever Law ends, Tyranny begins.

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

Buy the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Amazon Buy the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Amazon
Read the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Rule of law Law Tyranny Political theory Politics

Author

John Locke
Source
Second Treatise of Civil Government Two Treatises of Government
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1690 1690s 17th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Locke, John. "Second Treatise of Civil Government." Two Treatises of Government. London: Awnsham Churchill, 1690, ch. 18, sect. 202.

Current Citation

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Civil Government, edited by C. B. Macpherson. Hackett Publishing Company, 1980, ch. 18, sect. 202.

Another quote from the 1690s

Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd,
Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.

William Congreve

More information about this quote
Topic
Broken heart Men and women Women
Speaker
Queen Zara

Author

William Congreve
Source
The Mourning Bride
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragic play
Language
English
Time
1697 1690s 17th century
Authentication Score 0
Citation

Congreve, William. The Mourning Bride. 1697, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 2.

Another quote about Political theory

Modern politics is, at bottom, a struggle not of men but of forces.

Henry Adams

The Education of Henry Adams

Buy The Education of Henry Adams at Amazon Buy The Education of Henry Adams at Amazon
Read The Education of Henry Adams at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Great man theory of history Political theory Politics

Author

Henry Adams
Source
The Education of Henry Adams
Genre
Autobiography and memoir
Language
English
Time
1907 1900s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Adams, Henry. The Education of Henry Adams. 1907, ch. 28.

Current Citation

Adams, Henry. "The Education of Henry Adams." Henry Adams: Democracy, Esther, Mont Saint Michel and Chartres, The Education of Henry Adams, edited by Ernest Samuels and Jayne Samuels. Library of America, 1983, ch. 28.

Another quote from Age of Enlightenment

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men,
Gang aft a-gley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain,
For promis'd joy.

Robert Burns

More information about this quote
Topic
Making plans Dashed hopes Fate The unexpected

Author

Robert Burns
Source
To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With the Plough.
Medium
Poem
Language
Scots
Time
1785 1780s 18th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Burns, Robert. "To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785." Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Kilmarnock: John Wilson, 1786.

Current Citation

Burns, Robert. "To a Mouse." Robert Burns: Selected Poems, edited by Carol Mcguirk. Penguin Classics, 1994.