John Locke
1632–1704
Historical Figure“It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.”
November 4, 2025 · 13 quotes on the show
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 project—addressing knowledge, ethics, politics, and religion—established him as one of Western philosophy’s most consequential thinkers. His arguments for individual rights and limited government remain central to liberal democratic theory.
Quotes by John Locke
13 quotesJohn Locke’s insight on the difference between correcting error and imparting truth resonated through the November 4, 2025 broadcast, where guest host Marshall Dawson and transportation expert Randall O’Toole worked to expose the failed promises of transit subsidies and empower listeners with factual alternatives.
John Locke’s warning about the nature of those who seize power anchored the August 26, 2025 broadcast as Kim Monson connected Enlightenment philosophy to Colorado’s legislative session tax increases and the erosion of private property rights.
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.
Kim Monson featured this quote from Enlightenment philosopher John Locke to frame the discussion of Colorado’s legislative overreach, where over 500 bills have been introduced in just six weeks. The warning about those who take liberty eventually taking everything else proved prescient during Kevin Lundberg’s analysis on February 25th of how House Bill 1225 restricts Second Amendment rights for anyone engaged in political discourse, demonstrating the progressive strategy of incremental liberty erosion.
John Locke’s warning about the inseparability of liberty and security anchored the October 29, 2024 broadcast, where Ken Good exposed the FBI’s revised crime data and Steven Camarota examined threats to election integrity from non-citizen voting.
John Locke’s wisdom on self-knowledge concluded the September 11, 2024 broadcast, resonating with Honey Rinicella’s perseverance in fighting for her vaccine-injured sons and Cathy Russell’s intellectual journey from atheism to faith.
John Locke’s meditation on fortitude anchored the January 19, 2024 broadcast, reinforcing the episode’s call for civic courage as Allen Thomas and Lisa Bennett detailed property rights abuses and judicial overreach.
John Locke’s warning about the connection between liberty and property anchored the January 25, 2022 broadcast, which explored how rising interest rates and appraisal gaps squeeze homebuyers while decade-long artificially low rates have punished savers seeking low-risk investments.
John Locke’s words on property rights anchored the May 10, 2021 broadcast as Helen Mitchell connected the philosopher’s principles to Arthur Laffer’s economic pillars and the importance of limited government.
John Locke’s wisdom on judging people by their deeds rather than words closed the March 22, 2021 broadcast, where Helen Mitchell shared how Locke’s philosophy on preserving one’s own life inspired her to pursue a rare medical diagnosis that saved her from a fatal stroke, while Joshua Philipp exposed how government partners with big tech to censor dissent through Section 230 immunity.
John Locke’s insight on judging character by actions closed the March 5, 2021 broadcast, where Helen Mitchell connected her survival from rare bilateral carotid body tumors to Locke’s philosophy that individuals have a right and duty to preserve their own lives, while Joshua Philipp exposed how big government and big tech work together to censor speech through Section 230 and warned about Colorado’s SB21-132 digital communications bill.
John Locke’s insight on fortitude as the foundation of other virtues resonated throughout the December 9, 2020 broadcast, as guests discussed the courage required to challenge election irregularities and government overreach. Patti Kurgan reported on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s unprecedented lawsuit against four battleground states, Theresa Watson detailed chain of custody failures and Dominion voting machine glitches in Boulder County, Mark Baisley analyzed Colorado’s special legislative session and the governor’s emergency powers, and Lorne Levy discussed mortgage opportunities alongside election integrity concerns.
John Locke’s Enlightenment philosophy anchored the February 21, 2020 broadcast, which featured Stan Everitt explaining how understanding founding principles creates the foundation for meaningful dialogue across political divides.