Thinker × theme

John Locke quotes on knowledge

3 verified English passages where John Locke’ s thought meets questions of knowledge.

John Locke on knowledge

John Locke (1632–1704) approaches knowledge within Empiricism. The mind at birth is without innate speculative principles; ideas come from sensation and reflection. Primary qualities resemble external powers; secondary qualities do not. On this page, the archive isolates English passages where that project meets knowledge most directly—useful for searches such as “john locke quotes on knowledge.”

How to use this page

Start with the shortest passage, then compare tone across sources. Return to the John Locke thinker page for biography and to the knowledge theme for other voices on the same question.

Frequently asked

What did John Locke say about knowledge?

The quotations below are the archive’s curated answer: English renderings selected for clarity and attribution, not a complete corpus.

Where else should I read after john locke on knowledge?

Related themes: Self , Freedom , Nature , Reason , Life , Wisdom .

  1. Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience.
  2. Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters.
  3. It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean.