Did Thomas Jefferson Come Up With 'Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness'? No, John Locke Did.
The phrase 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but its origins can be traced back to John Locke. Jefferson acknowledged that his work on the Declaration of Independence was influenced by Locke's writings, particularly his ideas on natural rights and government. Locke's philosophy emphasized the importance of property and the formation of communities for the preservation of life and liberty.
- ▪Thomas Jefferson borrowed ideas from John Locke when writing the Declaration of Independence.
- ▪Locke's philosophy highlighted the significance of natural rights and the role of government in protecting them.
- ▪Jefferson aimed to express the common sentiments of his time rather than introduce entirely new principles.
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Did Thomas Jefferson Come Up With 'Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness'? No, John Locke Did. David Churchill Barrow | 11:55 PM on June 03, 2026 AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display("div-gpt-300x250_3"); //googletag.pubads().refresh([gptAdSlot["div-gpt-300x250_3"]]) }); Thomas Jefferson thought of Francis Bacon, John Locke, and Isaac Newton as “the greatest three people who ever lived, without exception.” All three have portraits hanging in Monticello.
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