Home / Quotes / Quote by Daniel Defoe

Quote by Daniel Defoe

“Thus we never see the true state of our condition till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it.”

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)

Work

Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)

The Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated) is a comprehensive compilation of the literary contributions of Daniel Defoe, a renowned English author. This collection encompasses a variety of genres, including novels, journalism, and political writings. Each work is accompanied by illustrations that aim to enrich the reader's understanding and appreciation of Defoe's texts. more

Author

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

“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.”

People Ifs Littles Would Be Order Conditions Mankind Complaining Compare Being Thankful Reflecting Murmuring

Book:The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Source: The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

“This grieved me heartily ; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it.”

Saws Judging Cost Late Folly Too Late

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)

“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.”

Source: 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

“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.”