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
Thus we never see the true state of our condition till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We often appreciate what we have only when we experience its absence.
This quote by Daniel Defoe suggests that human beings are often blind to the value of their current situation until they are contrasted with its opposite. In essence, it implies that the true understanding of happiness and satisfaction can only be gleaned from experiencing lack or adversity, making people appreciate their circumstances more fully when they are reminded of what life would be like without them.
Themes
AppreciationContrastValueAbsenceLifeUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about gratitude, this quote can remind the audience to appreciate what they have.
More from Daniel Defoe
All quotes →These 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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