Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Daniel Defoe (English Writer)

Daniel Defoe (1660–1731) was an English novelist, journalist, and writer in many genres. Defoe was a man of remarkably varied interests; he was also a political activist, merchant, convict, and spy.

As the author of more than 500 pamphlets and journals, Defoe is considered a forefather of British journalism. He was a politically controversial journalist; he was twice imprisoned, once for The Shortest Way with the Dissenters (1702.) His reputation among the most prolific writers in the English language rests on his eternally popular novels Robinson Crusoe (1719,) Moll Flanders (1722,) Colonel Jack (1722,) and Roxana (1724.)

Defoe established what is today called “faction,” writing that blurs history and story. Both Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders were initially published with just the names of their narrators on the cover and were sold as memoirs. His A Tour Through the Whole Isles of Great Britain (1724) is considered one of the beginnings of travel writing and The Complete English Tradesman (1726) is one of the first books on economics.

Defoe died in hiding from creditors in Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfields.

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by Daniel Defoe

All the good things of this world are no further good than as they are of use; and whatever we may heap up to give to others, we enjoy only as much as we can make useful to ourselves and others, and no more.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Usefullness

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

Justice is always violent to the party offending, for each man is innocent in his own eyes.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Justice

Why then should women be denied the benefits of instruction? If knowledge and understanding had been useless additions to the sex, God almighty would never have given them capacities.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Women

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
Topics: Wisdom

He that is rich is wise.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Wealth

Self-destruction is the effect of cowardice in the highest extreme.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Self-Discovery

Wealth, howsoever got, in England makes lords of mechanics, gentlemen of rakes; Antiquity and birth are needless here; ‘Tis impudence and money makes a peer.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Wealth

Pride the first peer and president of hell.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Pride

Vice came in always at the door of necessity, not at the door of inclination.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Necessity

All our discontents spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Contentment

When flatterers meet the devil goes to dinner.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Flattery

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

And of all plagues with which mankind are cursed, ecclesiastic tyranny’s the worst.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Churches, Religion

He that opposes his own judgment against the consent of the times ought to be backed with unanswerable truths; and he that has truth on his side is a fool, as well as a coward, if he is afraid to own it because of other men’s opinions.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Truth

Necessity makes an honest man a knave.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Necessity

Middle age is youth without its levity, and age without decay.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Youth, Aging, Age

And lords, whose parents were the Lord knows who.
Daniel Defoe
Topics: Aristocracy

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