I’ve always enjoyed the thought that life viewed through “rose coloured glasses” is a good method of reducing anxiety. Or at other times I’ve compared myself to the cartoon character Mr Magoo where he walks through a battle field, with his nose in a book, bombs going off to the left of him and to the right of him, but he is oblivious to the danger and so he is content. He doesn’t know he should be afraid.
It is with these little imaginings in mind that I recognised and understood the following quote from Robinson Crusoe:
How infinitely good that Providence is, which has provided, in its government of mankind, such narrow bounds to his sight and knowledge of things; and though he walks in the midst of so many thousand dangers, the sight of which if discovered to him, would distract his mind and sink his spirits, he is kept serene and calm, by having the events of things hid from his eyes, and knowing nothing of the dangers which surround him. Source: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Chapter 14.
These words were written by Daniel Defoe back in the early 1700s. It may not fascinate many but it certainly fascinates me. The fact that over 200 years ago a writer put into words a way of thinking that assists us get through modern life by reducing our anxiety.
The other surprise to me, is I’m reading Robinson Crusoe. I’d like to share why. Recently I was listening to an audio book of The Moonstone (1868) by Wilkie Collins, a 19th-century British epistolary novel, generally considered the first detective novel in the English language. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moonstone . There’s a character in the book who narrates a section of the book, his name is Gabriel Betteredge. Throughout his narrative Mr Betteredge the head servant, refers to the source of wisdom being his well thumbed book, Robinson Crusoe. He sings the praises of the wisdom of this book so highly, I decided I MUST read it and I found it’s true. The book, Robinson Crusoe if full of wisdom and advice about life and psychology which is timeless.
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins – Audio Book – Buy from Audible.com
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe – Audio Book – Buy from Audible.com








