Робінзон Крузо

           Inaword,thenatureandexperienceofthingsdictatedtome,uponjustreflection,thatallthegoodthingsofthisworldarenofarthergoodtousthantheyareforouruse; andthatwhateverwemayheapupindeedtogiveothers,weenjoyjustasmuchaswecanuse,andnomore. Themostcovetousgripingmiserintheworldwouldhavebeencuredoftheviceofcovetousness,ifhehadbeeninmycase; forIpossessedinfinitelymorethanIknewwhattodowith.Ihadnoroomfordesire,exceptitwasofthingswhichIhadnot,andtheywerebuttrifles,throughindeedofgreatusetome. Ihad,asIhintedbefore,aparcelofmoney,aswellgoldassilver,aboutthirty-sixpoundssterling. Alas!Therethenasty,sorry,uselessstufflay; Ihadnomannerofbusinessforit; andIoftenthoughtwithmyself,thatIwouldhavegivenahandfulofitforagrossoftobacco-pipes,orforahand-milltogrindmycorn; nay,Iwouldhavegivenitallforsixpenny-worthofturnipandcarrotseedoutofEngland,orforahandfulofpeasandbeans,andabottleofink. Asitwas,Ihadnottheleastadvantagebyit,orbenefitfromit; butthereitlayinadrawer,andgrewmouldywiththedampofthecaveinthewetseason; andifIhadhadthedrawerfullofdiamonds,ithadbeenthesamecase,andtheyhadbeenofnomannerofvaluetomebecauseofnouse. 

           Ihadnowbroughtmystateoflifetobemucheasierinitselfthanitwasatfirst,andmucheasiertomymind,aswellastomybody. Ifrequentlysatdowntomymeatwiththankfulness,andadmiredthehandofGod’sprovidence,whichhadthusspreadmytableinthewilderness. Ilearnedtolookmoreuponthebrightsideofmycondition,andlessuponthedarkside,andtoconsiderwhatIenjoyed,ratherthanwhatIwanted;andthisgavemesometimessuchsecretcomforts,thatIcannotexpressthem;