Please take this quick writeup in support of my argument that John Locke authored the quote in controversy.
John Locke was a British philosopher born 1632 and died 1704[
1]. Of all his works, he drafted two treatises of government. In his second treatise of government, Locke penned his famous quote "Wherever Law ends, Tyranny Begins." This quote may be found in Second Treatise of Government, section 202[
2]. The quote is actually the beginning of section 202 which in its entirety states:
Quote:
"Where-ever law ends, tyranny begins, if the law be transgressed to another's harm; and whosoever in authority exceeds the power given him by the law, and makes use of the force he has under his command, to compass that upon the subject, which the law allows not, ceases in that to be a magistrate; and, acting without authority, may be opposed, as any other man, who by force invades the right of another."[3]
Furthermore, Locke released the Second Treatise of Government in 1690.[
4] Thus, I contend John Locke wrote the quote in question and all others merely re-quoted him.
Next we must determine whether William Pitt created the quote or is merely re-quoting Locke. The first determination necessary is whether you are referring to William Pitt the Elder or William Pitt the Younger. A quick survey of historical evidence indicates it does not matter which William Pitt you referenced as authorship of said quote cannot be credited to either Pitt.
By comparing the birth and death dates between Locke and both Pitts proves beyond any reasonable doubt that either Pitt penned said quote. William Pitt the Elder was born 1708 and died 1778[
5]. William Pitt the Younger was born 1749 and died 1806[
6]. Both Pitts were born well after the publication date for the Second Treatise of Government. Therefore, neither Pitt authored the quote in question and merely re-quoted John Locke and his writings in the Treatises of Government.
1. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/2. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Locke3. http://www.constitution.org/jl/2ndtr18.htm4. http://www.constitution.org/jl/2ndtreat.htm (publish date is under title, this is the full treatise)
5. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1182.html6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt_the_Younger
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