Daniel Defoe

Middle age is youth without levity, and age without decay.

— Daniel Defoe

And of all plagues with which mankind are cursed, ecclesiastic tyranny's the worst.

— Daniel Defoe

Justice is always violent to the party offending, for every man is innocent in his own eyes.

— Daniel Defoe

Pride the first peer and president of hell.

— Daniel Defoe

Wealth, howsoever got, in England makes lords of mechanics, gentlemen of rakes; Antiquity and birth are needless here; 'Tis impudence and money makes a peer.

— Daniel Defoe

So putting the Purse into my Bosom, I made no more Resistance to him, but let him do just what he pleas'd; and as often as he pleas'd; and thus I finish'd my own Destruction at once, for from this Day, being forsaken of my Virtue, and my Modesty, I had nothing of Value left to recommend me, either to God's Blessing, or Man's Assistance.

— Daniel Defoe