Q0247
“The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it…Reason…teaches…” — John Locke (Second Treatise II.6)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Second Treatise II.6. Theme: justice.
English
The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it…Reason…teaches all mankind…that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Second Treatise II.6 and files it under British Empiricism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About John Locke
John Locke (1632–1704) was the English philosopher of empiricism and liberal politics whose Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Two Treatises of Government defined a century’s agenda. Associated with Shaftesbury and the Glorious Revolution settlement, he wrote on toleration, education, and money.
How to read this passage
Distributive, retributive, and restorative justice name different problems. Political philosophy asks what a just society owes its members and outsiders. This passage enters that discussion through justice, equality, reason.
Concepts in this quote
- Justice
- Justice concerns fairness, rights, desert, and the arrangement of institutions that claim to treat people as equals.
- Equality
- Equality appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat equality as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Reason
- Reason is the capacity to give and assess reasons—central to logic, science, ethics, and public argument.
How to cite this quotation
APA: John Locke. (n.d.). The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it…Reason…teaches all mankind…that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0247
MLA: John Locke. “The state of nature has a law of….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0247.
Chicago: John Locke. “The state of nature has a law of….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0247.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The state of nature has a law of…”?
The passage is attributed to John Locke, Second Treatise II.6. The archive attributes this English wording to Second Treatise II.6 and files it under British Empiricism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does John Locke mean by justice?
Distributive, retributive, and restorative justice name different problems. Political philosophy asks what a just society owes its members and outsiders. This passage enters that discussion through justice, equality, reason.