Quote#Nature
In a word, the nature and experience of things dictated to me, upon…
Quote byDaniel Defoe · 1660–1731
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Robinson Crusoe (1719), Ch. 9, A Boat..
English (original)
In a word, the nature and experience of things dictated to me, upon just reflection, that all the good things of this world are no farther good to us than they are for our use; and that, whatever we may heap up to give others, we enjoy just as much as we can use, and no more.
— Daniel Defoe
More from Daniel Defoe
Reason, it is true, is DICTATOR in the Society of Mankind; from her there ought to lie no Appeal; But here we want a Pope in our Philosophy, to be the infallible Judge of what is or is not Reason.
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, Who by the sleight of tongues can …
Alas the Church of England! What with Popery on one hand, and schismatics on the other, how has she been crucified between two thieves!
We loved the doctrine for the teacher's sake.
Hail, hieroglyphic State machine, Contrived to punish fancy in; Men that are men in thee can feel no pain, And all thy insignificance disdain!
All men would be tyrants if they could.