Daniel Defoe Quotes

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  • Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself when apparent to the eyes ; and we find the burden of anxiety greater, by much, than the evil which we are anxious about.

    Daniel Defoe (1822). “The life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe: who was shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, near the mouth of the great river Oroonoque, where he resided twenty-eight years. With an account of his travels through various parts of the world”, p.103
  • 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 have given them capacities.

    An Essay upon Projects "Of Academies: An Academy forWomen" (1697)
  • I saw the Cloud, though I did not foresee the Storm.

    Daniel Defoe (2007). “Moll Flanders”, p.50, Book Jungle
  • In trouble to be troubled, Is to have your trouble doubled.

    'The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe' (1719)
  • I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I wanted : and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot express them ; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.

    Daniel Defoe (2016). “DANIEL DEFOE Ultimate Collection: 50+ Adventure Classics, Pirate Tales & Historical Novels - Including Biographies, Historical Works, Travel Sketches, Poems & Essays (Illustrated): Robinson Crusoe, The History of the Pirates, Captain Singleton, Memoirs of a Cavalier, A Journal of the Plague Year, Moll Flanders, Roxana, The History of the Devil, The King of Pirates and many more”, p.129, e-artnow
  • I had dropped a good design, which I had once bent my thoughts upon, and that was to try if I could not make some of my barley into malt, and then try to brew myself some beer.

    Beer   Design   Trying  
    Daniel Defoe (1719). “Robinson Crusoe: The Illustrated Edition”, p.155, Top Five Books LLC
  • Fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.

    Daniel Defoe (1995). “Robinson Crusoe”, p.122, Wordsworth Editions
  • Friends are good,--good, if well chosen.

  • Wit is the Fruitful Womb where Thoughts conceive.

    Daniel Defoe (1705). “A Second Volume of the Writings of the Author of The True-born Englishman: Some Whereof Never Before Printed. Corrected and Enlarged by the Author”, p.166
  • Expect nothing and you'll always be surprised

  • All men would be tyrants if they could.

    The History of the Kentish Petition addenda, l. 11 (1712 - 1713) See Abigail Adams 1
  • And of all plagues with which mankind are curst, Ecclesiastic tyranny's the worst.

    'The True-Born Englishman' (1701) pt. 2, l. 299
  • The Dutch must be understood as they really are, the Middle Persons in Trade, the Factors and Brokers of Europe... they buy to sell again, take in to send out again, and the greatest Part of their vast Commerce consists in being supply'd from All Parts of the World, that they may supply All th World Again.

    Daniel Defoe (1967). “A Plan of the English Commerce: Being a Compleat Prospect of the Trade of this Nation, as Well the Home Trade as the Foreign”
  • Wealth, howsoever got, in England makes lords of mechanics, gentlemen of rakes; Antiquity and birth are needless here; 'Tis impudence and money makes a peer.

    Daniel Defoe (1855). “The Novels and Miscellaneous Works of Daniel De Foe”, p.443
  • It is never too late to be wise.

    Daniel Defoe, Thomas Roscoe (1831). “The life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe”, p.188
  • [The Devil's] laws are easy, and his gentle sway, Makes it exceeding pleasant to obey .

    Daniel Defoe (1843). “The works of Daniel De Foe [ed.] by W. Hazlitt”, p.19
  • We are very fond of some families because they can be traced beyond the Conquest, whereas indeed the farther back, the worse, as being the nearer allied to a race of robbers and thieves.

    Daniel Defoe (1843). “The works of Daniel De Foe [ed.] by W. Hazlitt”
  • Never, ladies, marry a fool. Any husband rather than a fool. With some other husband you may be unhappy, but with a fool you will be miserable.

    Daniel Defoe (1855). “Roxana; Or, The Fortunate Mistress: And The Life and Adventures of Mother Ross”, p.3
  • Manchester, one of the greatest, if not really the greatest mere village in England.

    1724-7 A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain, letter10.
  • 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 lions.

    Daniel Defoe (1724). “Novels and miscellaneous works: With prefaces and notes, including those attributed to Sir Walter Scott”, p.382
  • An Englishman will fairly drink as much As will maintain two families of Dutch.

    Daniel Defoe (1788). “The True Born Englishman. A Satire. A New Edition”, p.14
  • 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 hear me: I rejected the Voice of Providence.

    Daniel Defoe (1841). “The Works of Daniel De Foe: With a Memoir of His Life and Writings”
  • Redemption from sin is greater then redemption from affliction.

  • So possible is it for us to roll ourselves up in wickedness, till we grow invulnerable by conscience; and that sentinel, once dozed, sleeps fast, not to be awakened while the tide of pleasure continues to flow or till something dark and dreadful brings us to ourselves again.

    Daniel Defoe (2015). “The Fortunate Mistress: or, a History of the Life of Mademoiselle de Bealau Known by the Name of Lady Roxana”, p.52, Simon and Schuster
  • Necessity makes an honest man a knave.

    'The Serious Reflections of Robinson Crusoe' (1720) ch. 2
  • Reason, it is true, is DICTATOR in the Society of Mankind; from her there ought to lie no Appeal; But here we want a Pope in our Philosophy, to be the infallible Judge of what is or is not Reason.

    Daniel Defoe (1840). “The works of Daniel De Foe [ed.] by W. Hazlitt”
  • Avery fine city; the four principal streets are the fairest for breadth, and the finest built that I have ever seen in one city together? In a word,'tis the cleanest and beautifullest, and best built city in Britain, London excepted.

    1724-7 Of Glasgow. A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain, letter 12.
  • It happen'd one Day about Noon going towards my Boat, I was exceedingly surpriz'd with the Print of a Man's naked Foot on the Shore.

    Daniel Defoe (1998). “Robinson Crusoe”, p.112, Courier Corporation
  • As covetousness is the root of all evil, so poverty is the worst of all snares.

    'Moll Flanders' (1721)
  • Though I don't like the crew, I won't sink the ship. In fact, in time of storm I'll do my best to save it. You see, we are all in this craft and must sink or swim together.

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  • We hope you have found the saying you were looking for in our collection! At the moment, we have collected 95 quotes from the Writer Daniel Defoe, starting from September 13, 1660! We periodically replenish our collection so that visitors of our website can always find inspirational quotes by authors from all over the world! Come back to us again!