Robinson felt a strong desire to go to sea, even though both his parents were against this idea. One day, his father called him into his room. He told Robinson that going to sea was for desperate people, or wealthy people seeking adventures, and that Robinson was middle class. His father told him that the "middle station" was the best position in life, free from both the anxieties that come with privilege and power and the problems of poverty.
只有穷得铤而走险的人或雄心勃勃又富有资财的人，才去海外冒险 去干出一番出人头地的大事业，去以非同寻常的作为显身扬名。社会地位在中间的人是世界上最幸福的人，既不像劳力者那样，得去经历无数的艰辛困苦。也不像所谓的人上人那样，受骄奢，野心和嫉妒所累。
