Children's "bonds of subjection" are like the "swaddling clothes they are wrapt up in, and supported by, in the weakness of their infancy"and will only be loosened by age and reason
— Locke, John (1632-1704)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill
Date
1689
Metaphor
Children's "bonds of subjection" are like the "swaddling clothes they are wrapt up in, and supported by, in the weakness of their infancy"and will only be loosened by age and reason
Metaphor in Context
Children, I confess, are not born in this state of equality, though they are born to it. Their parents have a sort of rule and jurisdiction over them, when they come into the world, and for some time after, but it is but a temporary one. The bonds of this subjection are like the swaddling clothes they are wrapt up in, and supported by, in the weakness of their infancy: Age and reason, as they grow up, loosen them, till at length they drop quite off, and leave a man at his own free disposal.
(p. 304)
(p. 304)
Categories
Provenance
Past Masters
Citation
First published anonymously. At least 12 entries in ESTC (1690, 1694, 1698, 1713, 1728 1764, 1766, 1772, 1779, 1794, 1796). The Second Treatise is published separately in editions not listed in the foregoing parentheses.
Two Treatises of Government in the Former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer and His Followers Are Detected and Overthrown, the Latter Is an Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government. (London: Printed for Awnsham Churchill, 1690). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
Two Treatises of Government in the Former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer and His Followers Are Detected and Overthrown, the Latter Is an Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government. (London: Printed for Awnsham Churchill, 1690). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
12/06/2004
Date of Review
12/03/2008
