Quotes by Daniel Defoe

“In the first place , I was removed from all the wickedness of the world here. I had neither the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life. I had nothing to covet; for I had all t...”

“Diligence and Application have their due Encouragement, even in the remotest Parts of the World, and that no Case can be so low, so despicable, or so empty of Prospect, but that an unwearied Indust...”

“Those people cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them because they see and covet what He has not given them. All of our discontents for what we want appear to me to spring from want of than...”

“Middle age is youth without its levity And age without decay.”

“Whenever God erects a house of prayer The devil always builds a chapel there And 'twill be found upon examination The latter has the largest congregation.”

“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.”

“We loved the doctrine for the teacher's sake.”

“Alas the Church of England! What with Popery on one hand, and schismatics on the other, how has she been crucified between two thieves!”

“Hail, hieroglyphic State machine,Contrived to punish fancy in;Men that are men in thee can feel no pain,And all thy insignificance disdain!”

“Next, bring some lawyers to thy bar,By innuendo they might all stand there;There let them expiate that guilt,And pay for all that blood their tongues have spilt.These are the mountebanks of state,W...”

“All men would be tyrants if they could.”

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

“'Tis very strange Men should be so fond of being thought wickeder than they are.”

“Wise men affirm it is the English wayNever to grumble till they come to pay.”

“The best of men cannot suspend their fate;The good die early, and the bad die late.”

“Nature has left this tincture in the blood,That all men would be tyrants if they could.”

“Above all, I have followed that sure Rule in our Tongue, and which, were it observed, would, I believe, be acknowledged to be the best Rule in all Tongues, (viz) to make the Language plain, artless...”

“In trouble to be troubledIs to have your trouble doubled.”

“A true-bred merchant is the best gentleman in the nation.”

“Like Eden Fruitful, like Arabia Gay,So blest, they scarcely know for what to pray;England in native Glory ever springs;A Country fitted for the View of Kings.”