Posts Tagged ‘Daniel Defoe’

So little do we see before us in the world, and so much reason have we to depend cheerfully upon the great Maker of the world, that he does not leave his creatures so absolutely destitute, but that in the worst circumstances they have always something to be thankful for, and sometimes are nearer their deliverance than they imagine; nay, are even brought to their deliverance by the means by which they seem to be brought to their destruction.

Daniel Defoe — Robinson Crusoe (page 244-245)

Thus fear of danger is the 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 — Robinson Crusoe (page 156)

And it may not be amiss for all people who shall meet with my story to make this just observation from it—namely, how frequently in the course of our lives the evil which in itself we seek most to shun, and which, when we are fallen into it, is the most dreadful to us, is oftentimes the very mean or door of our deliverance, by which alone we can be raised again from the affliction we are fallen into.

Daniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe (page 176)

Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony, that there was scare any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something negative or something positive to thankful for in it; and let this stand as a direction from the experience of the most miserable of all conditions in this world, that we may always find in it something comfort ourselves from, and to set in the description of good and evil, on the credit side of the account.

Daniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe (page 66)