Quote of the Day — John Locke
March 25, 2025
The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves. — John Locke
1632–1704
View All Quotes by John Locke →John Locke
1632–1704
John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher whose political and epistemological theories profoundly shaped Enlightenment thought and American political philosophy. His Two Treatises of Government advanced the theory of natural rights and social contract, arguing that legitimate government derives power from the consent of the governed. These principles directly influenced the American Declaration of Independence and constitutional theory. Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding established empiricism as a foundational epistemological position, arguing that knowledge derives from sensory experience rather than innate ideas. His Letter Concerning Toleration advanced arguments for religious liberty and the separation of church and state. Locke’s comprehensive intellectual…
View All Quotes by John Locke →From the Show
Kim Monson reflects on her experience serving on the Lone Tree city council from 2012 to 2016, where she observed government officials distributing Community Development Block Grant funds to nonprofits. She questioned whether it was proper for government to take taxpayer money and distribute it to organizations she personally would not support, connecting this to John Locke’s principle about the limits of delegated power.
From the Same Day
March 25, 2025
Word of the Day
Delegation
The act of entrusting authority, power, or responsibility to another person or group; the process by which tasks or decision-making…
Explore Word →Today’s Episode
Colorado GOP Primary Lawsuit, Wolves That Cannot Read Maps, and Machiavelli’s Prince
Kevin Lundberg explains the Colorado GOP's constitutional challenge to semi-open primaries and wolf management failures. March 25, 2025.
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