Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe Quotes

Table of Contents

Biography

Famous Quotes

Impact on History

Notable Works

Detailed Write-Ups

List of Quotes

Biography

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1660 – 1731

Born in London, England

Was an English writer, merchant, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy.

Produced more than 300 works

  • Books
  • Pamphlets
  • Journals

His most famous novel Robinson Crusoe is second only to Bible in the number of translations.

Famous Quotes

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  • True state of our condition - Daniel Defoe
    We never see the true state of our condition, till it is illustrated to us by its contraries. – Daniel Defoe
  • Thankfulness - Daniel Defoe
    All our discontents about what we want, spring from the want of thankfulness. – Daniel Defoe
  • Value what you have - Daniel Defoe
    We do not know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of if. – Daniel Defoe

Impact On History

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Defoe was a pioneer of business journals and economic journalism

His works continue to entertain people of all ages

Notable Works

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Robinson Crusoe – a story of a solitary castaway’s survival on an uninhabited island.

A Journal of the Plague Year – in 1665 plague swept through London.  Defoe’s narrator traces the progress of the plague through the streets of London.

Detailed Write-Ups

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List Of Quotes

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Visualization Board

Spiritual/Emotional

All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.

Daniel Defoe [Robison Crusoe]

Now I looked back upon my desolate, solitary island as the most pleasant place in the world and all the happiness my heart could wish for was to be but there again.

Daniel Defoe [Robison Crusoe]

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