I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantages of learning to women.
Daniel DefoeRead
The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that the soul requires refinement and development to reveal its true beauty and potential.
In this quote, Daniel Defoe presents the idea that the human soul, much like a rough diamond, possesses inherent value and beauty that can only be brought to light through personal growth and self-improvement. Without effort and the process of polishing, the luster of our true selves remains hidden, suggesting that life's experiences and challenges are essential for personal enlightenment and fulfillment.
Themes
SoulPolishedGrowthPotentialSelf-Improvement
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to inspire personal growth.
More from Daniel Defoe
All quotes βThese reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence to me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its hardships and misfortunes ; and this part also I cannot but recommend to the reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is any affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases of some people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had thought fit.
Daniel DefoeRead
And which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
Daniel DefoeRead
I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth ... that 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 only can make them be esteemed wise men.
Daniel DefoeRead
Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself when apparent to the eyes ; and we find the burden of anxiety greater, by much, than the evil which we are anxious about.
Daniel DefoeRead
I hear much of people's calling out to punish the guilty, but very few are concerned to clear the innocent.
Daniel DefoeRead
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