‘To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.’
The Second Treatise of Government is one of the most important political treatises ever written and serves as the foundation of classical liberalism. The ideas expressed in the book are incredibly influential and partly influenced the development of the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States. Today, the treatise is considered to be one of the most important books in classical liberalism and is widely studied by anyone interested in political philosophy.
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician. He is one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and is considered to be the founder of liberalism.