Daniel Defoe Quotes

66 quotes in 884 categories

• All the good things of the world are no further good to us than as they are of use; and of all we may heap…
• Not the man in the moon, not the groaning-board, not the speaking of friar Bacon's brazen- head, not the inspiration of mother Shipton, or the…
• For I cannot think that GOD Almighty ever made them [women] so delicate, so glorious creatures; and furnished them with such charms, so agreeable and…
• What are the sorrows of other men to us, and what their joy?...
• Why then should women be denied the benefits of instruction? If knowledge and understanding had been useless additions to the sex, God almighty would never…
• He that is rich is wise.
• It is better to have a lion at the head of an army of sheep, than a sheep at the head of an army of…
• All our discontents about what we want appeared to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
• The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.
• An Englishman will fairly drink as much As will maintain two families of Dutch.
• I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country,…
• Vice came in always at the door of necessity, not at the door of inclination.
• Nature has left this tincture in the blood, That all men would be tyrants if they could.
• He that hath truth on his side is a fool as well as a coward if he is afraid to own it because fo other…
• Tis very strange men should be so fond of being wickeder than they are.
• Expect nothing and you'll always be surprised
• And I add this part here, to hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true Sense of things, they will…
• Fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.
• Today we love what tomorrow we hate, today we seek what tomorrow we shun, today we desire what tomorrow we fear, nay, even tremble at…
• I hear much of people's calling out to punish the guilty, but very few are concerned to clear the innocent.

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