Робінзон Крузо
Start in life
andthere,aswellasontheroad,hadmanystruggleswithmyselfwhatcourseoflifeIshouldtake,andwhetherIshouldgohomeortosea.
Astogoinghome,shameopposedthebestmotionsthatofferedtomythoughts,anditimmediatelyoccurredtomehowIshouldbelaughedatamongtheneighbours,andshouldbeashamedtosee,notmyfatherandmotheronly,buteveneverybodyelse; fromwhenceIhavesinceoftenobserved,howincongruousandirrationalthecommontemperofmankindis,especiallyofyouth,tothatreasonwhichoughttoguidetheminsuchcases-viz. thattheyarenotashamedtosin,andyetareashamedtorepent;notashamedoftheactionforwhichtheyoughtjustlytobeesteemedfools,butareashamedofthereturning,whichonlycanmakethembeesteemedwisemen.
Inthisstateoflife,however,Iremainedsometime,uncertainwhatmeasurestotake,andwhatcourseoflifetolead. Anirresistiblereluctancecontinuedtogoinghome;andasIstayedawayawhile,theremembranceofthedistressIhadbeeninworeoff,andasthatabated,thelittlemotionIhadinmydesirestoreturnworeoffwithit,tillatlastIquitelaidasidethethoughtsofit,andlookedoutforavoyage.
