proper business of all understandings.

7. Ideas of Existence and Unity.

EXISTENCE and UNITY are two other ideas that are suggested to the
understanding by every object without, and every idea within. When ideas
are in our minds, we consider them as being actually there, as well
as we consider things to be actually without us;--which is, that they
exist, or have existence. And whatever we can consider as one thing,
whether a real being or idea, suggests to the understanding the idea of
unity.

8. Idea of Power.

POWER also is another of those simple ideas which we receive from
sensation and reflection. For, observing in ourselves that we do and
can think, and that we can at pleasure move several parts of our bodies
which were at rest; the effects, also, that natural bodies are able to
produce in one another, occurring every moment to our senses,--we both
these ways get the idea of power.

9. Idea of Succession.

Besides these there is another idea, which, though suggested by our
senses, yet is more constantly offered to us by what passes in our
minds; and that is the idea of SUCCESSION. For if we look immediately
into ourselves, and reflect on what is observable there, we shall find
our ideas always, whilst we are awake, or have any thought, passing in
train, one going and another coming, without intermission.

10. Simple Ideas the materials of all our Knowledge.

These, if they are not all, are at least (as I think) the most
considerable of those simple ideas which the mind has, out of which is
made all its other knowledge; all which it receives only by the two
forementioned ways of sensation and reflection.

Nor let any one think these too narrow bounds for the capacious mind of
man to expatiate in, which takes its flight further than the stars, and
cannot be confined by the limits of the world; that extends its thoughts
often even beyond the utmost expansion of Matter, and makes excursions
into that incomprehensible Inane. I grant all this, but desire any one
to assign any SIMPLE IDEA which is not received from one of those inlets
before mentioned, or any COMPLEX IDEA not made out of those simple ones.
Nor will it be so strange to think these few simple ideas sufficient to
employ the quickest thought, or largest capacity; and to furnish the
materials of all that various knowledge, and more various fancies and
opinions of all mankind, if we consider how many words may be made out
of the various com