Second Treatise of Government

The 1690 text. 20 parts, about 56,094 words, 4 hours of reading. Source edition.

Passages the guide marks

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm…
Chapter II, section 6 · Read it in Of the State of Nature
Whatsoever then he removes out of the state that nature hath provided, and left it in, he hath mixed his labour with, and joined to it something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property.
Chapter V, section 27 · Read it in Of Property
The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property.
Chapter IX, section 124 · Read it in Of the Ends of Political Society and Government
Men being, as has been said, by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.
Chapter VIII, section 95 · Read it in Of the Beginning of Political Societies
Locke answers the charge that his doctrine invites rebellion by replying that it is the ruler who rebels, having broken the trust, and that people are slow to revolt rather than eager.
Chapter XIX, sections 223 to 230

About this text

Public domain in the United States; the Project Gutenberg edition is free of restrictions under the Project Gutenberg License. It is not the edition the programs assign; the guide names that one, and the buy links there point at it.

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