...length of his Line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the Ocean. 'Tis well he knows thai it is long enough to reach the bottom, at such Places,...him against running upon Shoals, that may ruin him." And, Man would be at a great loss, if he had nothing to direct him. but what has the Certainty of true...

...and often repeats, that it is morality or action that is "the great business of mankind" (2.22.10). "Our business here is not to know all things, but those which concern our conduct" (1 .1 .6). Thus the highest theme of the Essay is moral knowledge ( 1 .1 .6). Locke's highest theme...

...sailor need not have a line deep enough to "fathom all the depths of the ocean"; he only needs a line "long enough to reach the bottom, at such places, as are necessary to direct his voyage" (E I.1.6, 46). And the "first step" in uncovering measures to govern our conduct, Locke writes, is...

...we do have, see Locke 1975, p. 46 (ii-5). 6 Locke 1975, p. 646 (iv.xii.i1). beginning of the Essay, 'our business here is not to know all things, but those which concern our conduct'.7 This picks up the even straighter account of our purposes in the Two Treatises where it...

...Sailor to know the length of his Line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the Ocean." Tis well he knows, that it is long enough to reach the...know all things, but those which concern our Conduct. (I/i/6) Shirk the task of self-examination and we imprudently "let loose our Thoughts into the vast...