Full Idea
All commonwealths are in a state of Nature one with another.
Gist of Idea
All countries are in a mutual state of nature
Source
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 153)
Book Reference
Locke,John: 'Two Treatises of Government' [Everyman 1988], p.211
A Reaction
A striking remark. It is easy to think that the state of nature no longer exists. International law attempts to rectify this, but diplomacy is much more like negotiations in nature than it is like obedience to laws.