Daniel Defoe - Men Quotes

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

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

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

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

Daniel Defoe
I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases - viz. they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent. Not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which can only make them be esteemed wise men.

Daniel Defoe
For I cannot think that God Almighty ever made them so delicate, so glorious creatures; and furnished them with such charms, so agreeable and so delightful to mankind; with souls capable of the same accomplishments with men: and all, to be only Stewards of our Houses, Cooks, and Slaves.

Daniel Defoe
He that is rich is wise, And all men learned poverty despise.

Daniel Defoe
What are the sorrows of other men to us, and what their joy?...

Daniel Defoe
Whatever Party of Men obtain the Reins of Management, and have power to name the Person who shall License the Press, that Party of Men have the whole power of keeping the World in Ignorance, in all matters relating to Religion or Policy, since the Writers of that Party shall have full liberty to impose their Notions upon the World.

Daniel Defoe