---
title: "2 Epistemology Quotes By John Locke"
description: "2 Epistemology quotes by John Locke. Plus more from John Locke and more Epistemology sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/john-locke-814_ambition_it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as_2402756.png"
---

> [“It is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some of the rubbish which lies in the way to knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as-an-under-labourer-in-clearing-2/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/john-locke-814_ambition_it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as_2402756.png)

> [“The understanding, like the eye, whilst it makes us see and perceive all other things, takes no notice of itself: and it requires art and pains to set it at a distance and make it its own object… If by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-understanding-like-the-eye-whilst-it-makes-us-see-and-perceive/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/john-locke-814_art_the-understanding-like-the-eye-whilst-it_2503355.png)

## Other authors on Epistemology

- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b012/author-immanuel-kant-44297.jpg) Immanuel Kant 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/immanuel-kant/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b003/author-alexander-woollcott-11063.jpg) Hilary Kornblith 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/hilary-kornblith/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bridget-kelly-19702.jpg) Felix Alba-Juez 10 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/felix-alba-juez/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b006/author-carl-von-ossietzky-21013.jpg) Max Scheler 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/max-scheler/)

## More by John Locke

> [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-pretend-not-to-teach-but-to-inquire/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [If we trace the progress of our minds, and with attention observe how it repeats, adds together, and unites its simple ideas received from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-we-trace-the-progress-of-our-minds-and-with-attention-observe-how/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/thus-parents-by-humouring-and-cockering-them-when-little-corrupt-the/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [ “\[M\]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to-follow-his-own-thoughts-in/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/fashion-for-the-most-part-is-nothing-but-the-ostentation-of-riches/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/when-we-know-our-own-strength-we-shall-the-better-know-what-to/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/every-man-has-a-property-in-his-own-person-this-nobody-has-a-right-to/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [“Earthly minds, like mud-walls, resist the strongest batteries: And though perhaps sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/earthly-minds-like-mud-walls-resist-the-strongest-batteries-and/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [“To avoid this state of war (wherein there is no appeal but to heaven, and wherein every the least difference is apt to end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/to-avoid-this-state-of-war-wherein-there-is-no-appeal-but-to-heaven/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-by-gaining-knowledge-we-destroy-our-health-we-labour-for-a-thing/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [“don’t let the things you don’t have prevent you from using the things you do have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/don-t-let-the-things-you-don-t-have-prevent-you-from-using-the-things/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/power-to-do-good-is-the-true-and-lawful-act-of-aspiring-for-good/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [The body of People may with Respect resist intolerable Tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-body-of-people-may-with-respect-resist-intolerable-tyranny/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

> [Anger is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/anger-is-uneasiness-or-discomposure-of-the-mind-upon-the-receipt-of/)

[John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/#itemlist",
            "name": "2 Epistemology Quotes By John Locke",
            "numberOfItems": 2,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“It is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some of the rubbish which lies in the way to knowledge.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "John Locke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as-an-under-labourer-in-clearing-2/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/john-locke-814_ambition_it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as_2402756.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/john-locke-814_ambition_it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as_2402756.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/john-locke-814_ambition_it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as_2402756.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“It is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some…” — John Locke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“The understanding, like the eye, whilst it makes us see and perceive all other things, takes no notice of itself: and it requires art and pains to set it at a distance and make it its own object… If by this inquiry into the nature of the understanding, I can discover the powers thereof; how far they reach; to what things they are in any degree proportionate; and where they fail us, I suppose it may be of use to prevail with the busy mind of man to be more cautious in meddling with things exceeding its comprehension; to stop when it is at the utmost extent of its tether; and to sit down in a quiet ignorance of those things which, upon examination, are found to be beyond the reach of our capacities.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "John Locke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-understanding-like-the-eye-whilst-it-makes-us-see-and-perceive/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/john-locke-814_art_the-understanding-like-the-eye-whilst-it_2503355.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/john-locke-814_art_the-understanding-like-the-eye-whilst-it_2503355.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/john-locke-814_art_the-understanding-like-the-eye-whilst-it_2503355.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“The understanding, like the eye, whilst it makes us see and perceive all other things, takes no notice of…” — John Locke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/",
            "name": "Epistemology Quotes by John Locke",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/john-locke-814_ambition_it-is-ambition-enough-to-be-employed-as_2402756.png"
            },
            "description": "2 Epistemology quotes by John Locke. Plus more from John Locke and more Epistemology sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Epistemology",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "John Locke",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/john-locke/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```