Excerpts from John Locke's Second Treatise of Government
Chapter II: Of the State of Nature
To understand political power right, and to 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.
But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of license: though every man hath an uncontroulable liberty to his person and possessions, yet he hath not liberty to destroy himself, or any creature in his possession, but when some nobler use, than its bare preservation, calls for it.
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 another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.
Chapter VII: Of Political Society and Government
Man being born, as has been said, with a title to perfect freedom, and an uncontroulable liberty to his possessions, and person, is by nature in, as has been said, the state of nature. This freedom is not for all.
The ultimate power of the society, or legislative, is limited, and ought to be regulated by the law of nature; and that by the law of nature, which has the force of the civil law in all countries, where it is taught, that no man ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.
The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property; and the reason why they lay down their power and are subject to government, is to avoid the inconveniences of the state of nature, which must needs be great, where every man is judge in his own case. For though in the state of nature, the law of nature be plain and intelligible to all rational creatures, yet men, being biased by their interest, as well as ignorant for want of study of it, are not apt to allow of it as a law binding to them in the application of it to their particular cases.
Chapter IX: Of the Ends of Political Society and Government
If man in the state of nature be so free, as has been said; if he be absolute lord of his own person and possessions, equal to the greatest, and subject to nobody, why will he part with his freedom? why will he give up this empire, and subject himself to the dominion and controul of any other power?
The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property. To which in the state of nature there are many deficiencies, which are supplied by the laws of government.
In the state of nature the enjoyment of property he has in this state is very uncertain, and constantly exposed to the invasion of others: for all being kings as much as he, every man his equal, and the greater part no strict observers of equity and justice, the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very uncertain, and constantly exposed to the invasion of others.