[M]an's power, and its way of operation, [is] muchwhat the same in the material and intellectual world. For the materials in both being such as he ha… - John Locke

Reason, if consulted with, would advise, that their children's time should be spent in acquiring what might be useful to them when they come to be men, rather than to have their heads stuff'd with a deal of trash, a great part whereof they usually never do ('tis certain they never need to) think on again as long as they live: and so much of it as does stick by them they are only the worse for.

God hath woven into the principles of human nature such a tenderness for their off-spring, that there is little fear that parents should use their power with too much rigour;

The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.