Common Quote by John Locke
“Error is none the better for being common, nor truth the worse for having lain neglected.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, John Locke, 1689
Common errors and neglected truths both persist; neither is inherently better or worse.
In simple terms: Both mistakes and truths are ordinary.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias in knowledge.
Themes
epistemology
error
truth
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- daily decision‑making
Key Concepts
critical thinking
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify truth? When do you accept error?
A Different Perspective
Truth can be distorted by bias despite frequency.
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![“[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 of the common road.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9bd/john-locke-814_censorship_m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to_60175.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
