I was born in the Year 1632, in the City of York, of a good Family, tho' not of that Country, my Father being a Foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull; He got a good Estate by Merchandise, and leaving off his Trade, lived afterward at York, from whence he had married my Mother, whose Relations were named Robinson, a very good Family in that Country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but by the usual Corruption of Words in England, we are now called, nay we call ourselves, and write our Name Crusoe, and so my Companions always call'd me.

Tis very strange men should be so fond of being wickeder than they are.

We are very fond of some families because they can be traced beyond the Conquest, whereas indeed the farther back, the worse, as being the nearer allied to a race of robbers and thieves.

Alas the Church of England! What with Popery on one hand, and schismatics on the other, how has she been crucified between two thieves!

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

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

And of all plagues with which mankind are curst, Ecclesiastic tyranny's the worst.