Daniel Defoe

late wise

“It is never too late to be wise.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

expect surprise

“Expect nothing and you'll always be surprised”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

fear danger risk

“Fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

punish guilty clear innocent

“I hear much of people's calling out to punish the guilty, but very few are concerned to clear the innocent.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

today tomorrow hate love seek shun desire ear

“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 the apprehensions of.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

fear danger terrify anxiety evil risk

“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 (1660-1731)

lion head army sheep

“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 (1660-1731)

nature blood tyrant

“Nature has left this tincture in the blood,

That all men would be tyrants if they could.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

king justice sword crown shadow empty

“When kings the sword of justice first lay down,

They are no kings, though they possess the crown.

Titles are shadows, crowns are empty things,

The good of subjects is the end of kings.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

misfortunes alone

“Misfortunes seldom come alone.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

best men fate good die early bad late death

“The best of men cannot defend their fate: the good die early, the bad die late.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

man short-sight future affection counselor

“Man is a short-sighted creature, sees but a very little way before him; and as his passions are none of his best friends, so his particular affections are generally his worst counselors.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

plague mankind ecclesiastic church religion

“And of all the plagues with which mankind are cursed, Ecclesiastic tyranny's the worst.”

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

human wisdom temper circumstance calm storm

"The height of human wisdom is to bring our tempers down to our circumstances, and to make a calm within, under the weight of the greatest storm without."

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

necessity honest man knave

"Necessity makes an honest man a knave"

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

god house prayer devil chapel religion

"Wherever God erects a house of prayer

the Devil always builds a chapel there;

And 't will be found, upon examination,

the latter has the largest congregation."

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

ship crew like sink swim together

"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."

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

pride president hell

"Pride, the first peer and president of Hell."

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

covetousness evil poverty

"As covetousness is the root of all evil, so poverty is the worst of all snares."

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

law word power

"Law is but a heathen word for power."

― Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)