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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1660-1785] Enlightenment » John Locke

John Locke

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Diet

[1693] John Locke, "Diet," in Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693; London, 1712; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

As for his Diet, it ought to be very plain and simple; and if I might advise, Flesh should be forborn as long as he is in Coats, or at least 'till he is two or three Years old. But whatever Advantage this may be to his present and future Health and Strength, I fear it will hardly be consented to by Parents, mislead by the Custom of eating too much Flesh themselves, who will be apt to think theri Children, as they do themselves, in Danger to be starv'd, if they have not Flesh at least twice a Day. This I am sure, Children would breed theri Teeth with much less Danger, be freer from Diseases whilst they were little, and lay the Foundations of an healthy and strong Constitution much surer if they wer not cram'd so much as they are by fond Mothers and foolish Servants, and were kept wholly from Flesh, the first three or four Years of their Lives. (14-15)

You cannot imagin of what Force Custom is; and I impute a great Part of our Diseases in England, to our eating too much Flesh, and too little Bread. (18)