--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I smiled at him, and told him that men in…" description: "\"“I smiled at him, and told him that men in our circumstances were past the operation of fear: that seeing almost every condition that could be, was bet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg" --- # I smiled at him, and told him that men in our… ![“I smiled at him, and told him that men in our circumstances were past the operation of fear: that seeing almost every condition that could be, was better than that which we were supposed to be in, we ought to expect that the consequence, whether death or life, would be sure to be a deliverance. I…” quote by Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg) > ““I smiled at him, and told him that men in our circumstances were past the operation of fear: that seeing almost every condition that could be, was better than that which we were supposed to be in, we ought to expect that the consequence, whether death or life, would be sure to be a deliverance. I asked him what he thought of the circumstances of my life, and whether a deliverance were not worth venturing for. ‘And where, sir,’ said I, ‘is your belief of my being preserved here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you a little while ago? For my part,’ said I, ‘there seems to be but one thing amiss in all the prospect of it.’ ‘What’s that?’ says he. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘ ’tis that as you say, there are three or four honest fellows among them, which should be spared; had they been all of the wicked part of the crew, I should have thought God’s providence had singled them out to deliver them into your hands; for depend upon it, every man of them that comes a-shore are our own, and shall die or live as they behave to us.”” [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character argues that confronting fear and uncertain fate can lead to deliverance, suggesting belief in providence guides actions. **In simple terms:** Facing fear and fate can bring salvation through belief. Key Takeaway Trust in purpose despite uncertainty. Themes faith fear destiny survival philosophy Mood thoughtful determined serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - making decisions under risk - spiritual contemplation - leadership training - ethical debates Key Concepts providence free will existential risk courage Questions to Reflect On - Is deliverance always worth the risk? - How do we balance faith with practical action? A Different Perspective The view may overemphasize destiny, ignoring personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deliverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliverance/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [And I add this part here, to hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true Sense of things, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/and-i-add-this-part-here-to-hint-to-whoever-shall-read-it-that/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [...in the course of our lives, the evil which in itself we seek most to shun, and which, when we are fallen into, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/in-the-course-of-our-lives-the-evil-which-in-itself-we-seek-most-to/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“... how frequently, in the course of our lives, the evil which in itself we seek most to shun, and which, when we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/how-frequently-in-the-course-of-our-lives-the-evil-which-in-itself-we/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Justice is always Violence to the Party offending, for every Man is Innocent in his own Eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/justice-is-always-violence-to-the-party-offending-for-every-man-is/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Let me now praise the American writer James Dickey. In 1970, his novel 'Deliverance' was published. I found it to be 278 pages that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/let-me-now-praise-the-american-writer-james-dickey-in-1970-his-novel/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Whether we get to avoid pain and suffering or we must persevere in the midst of it, our deliverance comes when we're dragged from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/whether-we-get-to-avoid-pain-and-suffering-or-we-must-persevere-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [When the door shuts another opens. He that would struggle with the world, and bear up in adversity, ought still to resolve not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-palmer/when-the-door-shuts-another-opens-he-that-would-struggle-with-the/) [Samuel Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-palmer/) > [Deliverance is about what I went through the first time. And I chalk it up as a learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-sparxxx/deliverance-is-about-what-i-went-through-the-first-time-and-i-chalk/) [Bubba Sparxxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-sparxxx/) > [Not to be occupied with your sin, but to be occupied with God brings deliverance from self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/not-to-be-occupied-with-your-sin-but-to-be-occupied-with-god-brings/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [The only basis on which to work for God is an esteemed appreciation of his deliverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-only-basis-on-which-to-work-for-god-is-an-esteemed-appreciation/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Man may feel like a feeble and powerless pawn, at some moment in his life. This apprehension can come out of the blue, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/man-may-feel-like-a-feeble-and-powerless-pawn-at-some-moment-in-his/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [There was no answer, no solution, no sop, no deliverance. What, then, did I do? I read faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/there-was-no-answer-no-solution-no-sop-no-deliverance-what-then-did-i/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [“By salvation I mean not barely according to the vulgar notion deliverance from hell or going to heaven but a present deliverance from sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/by-salvation-i-mean-not-barely-according-to-the-vulgar-notion/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“To be set free, turn away from your sins. And return to God of great mercy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-be-set-free-turn-away-from-your-sins-and-return-to-god-of-great/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I thought 'Deliverance' was a very good film. But it didn't have the success financially that 'Smokey and the Bandit' did, although that film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-thought-deliverance-was-a-very-good-film-but-it-didn-t-have-the/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) ## More by Daniel Defoe > [“Strah od opasnosti je deset tisuća puta snažniji nego sama opasnost kad se pojavi pred očima.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/strah-od-opasnosti-je-deset-tisu-a-puta-sna-niji-nego-sama-opasnost/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortune on the other, who when abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/he-told-me-it-was-for-men-of-desperate-fortunes-on-one-hand-or-of/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“From this moment I began to conclude in my mind that it was possible for me to be more happy in this forsaken, solitary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/from-this-moment-i-began-to-conclude-in-my-mind-that-it-was-possible/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Wit is the Fruitful Womb where Thoughts conceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-is-the-fruitful-womb-where-thoughts-conceive/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Wit, like the Belly, if it be not fed, Will starve the Members, and distract the Head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-like-the-belly-if-it-be-not-fed-will-starve-the-members-and/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“was to prepare more land, for I had now seed enough to sow above an acre of ground. Before I did this, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/was-to-prepare-more-land-for-i-had-now-seed-enough-to-sow-above-an/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Justice is always Violence to the Party offending, for every Man is Innocent in his own Eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/justice-is-always-violence-to-the-party-offending-for-every-man-is/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“and in that one night's wickedness I drowned all my repentance,all my reflections upon my past conduct,and all my resolution for the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/and-in-that-one-night-s-wickedness-i-drowned-all-my-repentance-all-my/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/thus-fear-of-danger-is-ten-thousand-times-more-terrifying-than-danger/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [As for women that do not think their own safety worth their thought, that impatient of their present state, resolve as they call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/as-for-women-that-do-not-think-their-own-safety-worth-their-thought/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“It is as reasonable to represent one kind of imprisonment by another as it is to represent anything that really exists by that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/it-is-as-reasonable-to-represent-one-kind-of-imprisonment-by-another/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [So possible is it for us to roll ourselves up in wickedness, till we grow invulnerable by conscience; and that sentinel, once dozed, sleeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/so-possible-is-it-for-us-to-roll-ourselves-up-in-wickedness-till-we/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Now, said I aloud, My dear Father's Words are come to pass: God's Justice has overtaken me, and I have none to help or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/now-said-i-aloud-my-dear-father-s-words-are-come-to-pass-god-s/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“I stood still an hour or thereabouts without trespassing on our orders (for so long the caravan was in passing the gate), to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/i-stood-still-an-hour-or-thereabouts-without-trespassing-on-our/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) [Explore all 173 Daniel Defoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) ## More Deliverance quotes > [I thought 'Deliverance' was a very good film. But it didn't have the success financially that 'Smokey and the Bandit' did, although that film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-thought-deliverance-was-a-very-good-film-but-it-didn-t-have-the/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [“To be set free, turn away from your sins. And return to God of great mercy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-be-set-free-turn-away-from-your-sins-and-return-to-god-of-great/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“By salvation I mean not barely according to the vulgar notion deliverance from hell or going to heaven but a present deliverance from sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/by-salvation-i-mean-not-barely-according-to-the-vulgar-notion/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [There was no answer, no solution, no sop, no deliverance. What, then, did I do? I read faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/there-was-no-answer-no-solution-no-sop-no-deliverance-what-then-did-i/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [“Man may feel like a feeble and powerless pawn, at some moment in his life. This apprehension can come out of the blue, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/man-may-feel-like-a-feeble-and-powerless-pawn-at-some-moment-in-his/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [The only basis on which to work for God is an esteemed appreciation of his deliverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-only-basis-on-which-to-work-for-god-is-an-esteemed-appreciation/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Not to be occupied with your sin, but to be occupied with God brings deliverance from self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/not-to-be-occupied-with-your-sin-but-to-be-occupied-with-god-brings/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Deliverance is about what I went through the first time. And I chalk it up as a learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-sparxxx/deliverance-is-about-what-i-went-through-the-first-time-and-i-chalk/) [Bubba Sparxxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-sparxxx/) > [When the door shuts another opens. He that would struggle with the world, and bear up in adversity, ought still to resolve not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-palmer/when-the-door-shuts-another-opens-he-that-would-struggle-with-the/) [Samuel Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-palmer/) > [Whether we get to avoid pain and suffering or we must persevere in the midst of it, our deliverance comes when we're dragged from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/whether-we-get-to-avoid-pain-and-suffering-or-we-must-persevere-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Let me now praise the American writer James Dickey. In 1970, his novel 'Deliverance' was published. I found it to be 278 pages that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/let-me-now-praise-the-american-writer-james-dickey-in-1970-his-novel/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [You might be a redneck if you think the Mountain Men in Deliverance were just misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-think-the-mountain-men-in-deliverance/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [We live in hope of deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/we-live-in-hope-of-deliverance-from-the-darkness-that-surrounds-us/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [“A successful search for Truth means complete deliverance from the dual throng such as of love and hate, happiness and misery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-successful-search-for-truth-means-complete-deliverance-from-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [So an ancient once said, "Accept the anxieties and difficulties of this life". Don't expect your practice to be clear of obstacles. Without hindrances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyongho/so-an-ancient-once-said-accept-the-anxieties-and-difficulties-of-this/) Kyongho [Browse all 266 Deliverance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliverance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I smiled at him, and told him that men in our circumstances were past the operation of fear: that seeing almost every condition that could be, was better than that which we were supposed to be in, we ought to expect that the consequence, whether death or life, would be sure to be a deliverance. I asked him what he thought of the circumstances of my life, and whether a deliverance were not worth venturing for. ‘And where, sir,’ said I, ‘is your belief of my being preserved here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you a little while ago? For my part,’ said I, ‘there seems to be but one thing amiss in all the prospect of it.’ ‘What’s that?’ says he. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘ ’tis that as you say, there are three or four honest fellows among them, which should be spared; had they been all of the wicked part of the crew, I should have thought God’s providence had singled them out to deliver them into your hands; for depend upon it, every man of them that comes a-shore are our own, and shall die or live as they behave to us.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Defoe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in-our-circumstances-were-past/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deliverance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in-our-circumstances-were-past/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/daniel-defoe-1971_every-man_i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in_1407848.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I smiled at him, and told him that men in our circumstances were past the operation of fear: that seeing…” — Daniel Defoe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Daniel Defoe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I smiled at him, and told...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in-our-circumstances-were-past/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/i-smiled-at-him-and-told-him-that-men-in-our-circumstances-were-past/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```