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Quote by Daniel Defoe

“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.”

Quote by Daniel Defoe

Work

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

The narrative follows Robinson Crusoe's experiences as a shipwrecked survivor on a remote island, detailing his struggles, survival tactics, and eventual journey to explore different regions of the globe. more

Author

Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe, an English writer born on September 13, 1660, and died on April 24, 1731. His works covered a wide range of genres, including adventure novels, political satire, and philosophical thinking, with his most famous work being 'Robinson Crusoe'. Defoe's works have had a profound impact on literature. more

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“It put me upon reflecting how little repining there would be among mankind at any condition of life, if people would rather compare their condition with those that were worse, in order to be thankful, than be always comparing them with those which are better, to assist their murmurings and complaining.”

“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.”

“These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence to me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its hardships and misfortunes ; and this part also I cannot but recommend to the reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is any affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases of some people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had thought fit.”

“I know not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret, overruling decree, that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction, even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes open.”

“I could not forbear getting up to the top of a little mountain, and looking out to sea, in hopes of seeing a ship : then fancy that, at a vast distance, I spied a sail, please myself with the hopes of it, and, after looking steadily, till I was almost blind, lose it quite, and sit down and weep like a child, and thus increase my misery by my folly.”