Better be an old maid, a woman with herself as a husband, than the wife of a fool; and Solomon more than hints that all men are fools; and every wise man knows himself to be one.
Herman Melville
Old Maid, Foolish Husband, Wise Reflection, Maid, Husband, Wise
Herman Melville’s Quotes On Topics
True Loveliness | Historical Grudge | Vengeance | Jagged Edges | Religion Practicality | Incomplete Works | Moral Values | Fair Chance | Scarce Laugh | Shared Service | Shadow | Benevolence Conflict | Devil Yes | Wondrous Fearful | Challenge | Style | Ocean Division | Belief Respect | Moral Code | Wag | More
More Herman Melville Quotes
“Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true substance. Methinks that in looking at things spiritual, we are too much like oysters observing the sun through the water, and thinking that thick water the thinnest of air.” Herman Melville
Spiritual Substance, Earthly Shadow, Shadow, Substance, Spiritual, Perception
Herman Melville Spiritual Substance, Earthly Shadow, Shadow, Substance, Spiritual, Perception“You cannot hide the soul.” Herman Melville
Hidden Soul, True Nature, Soul Visibility, Soul, Nature, Visibility
Herman Melville Hidden Soul, True Nature, Soul Visibility, Soul, Nature, Visibility“There is all of the difference in the world between paying and being paid.” Herman Melville
Work And Compensation, Financial Reality, Self-worth, Employment, Value, Transactions
Herman Melville Work And Compensation, Financial Reality, Self-worth, Employment, Value, Transactions“I would prefer not to.” Herman Melville
Personal Choice, Refusal Statement, Prefer, Not, Decision, Choice
Herman Melville Personal Choice, Refusal Statement, Prefer, Not, Decision, Choice“Of all nature’s animated kingdoms, fish are the most unchristian, inhospitable, heartless, and cold-blooded of creatures.” Herman Melville
Fish Nature, Cold-blooded Fish, Inhospitable Creatures, Fish, Nature, Creatures
Herman Melville Fish Nature, Cold-blooded Fish, Inhospitable Creatures, Fish, Nature, Creatures“Yes, as everyone knows, meditation and water are wedded forever.” Herman Melville
Meditation Practice, Spiritual Connection, Calmness, Mind And Body, Peace, Water
Herman Melville Meditation Practice, Spiritual Connection, Calmness, Mind And Body, Peace, Water“He says NO! In thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes.” Herman Melville
Devil Thunder, Thunder No, Devil Yes, Devil, Thunder, No
Herman Melville Devil Thunder, Thunder No, Devil Yes, Devil, Thunder, No“All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.” Herman Melville
Whale-lines Perils, Sudden Death, Mortal Realization, Death, Life, Perils
Herman Melville Whale-lines Perils, Sudden Death, Mortal Realization, Death, Life, Perils“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” Herman Melville
Human Connection, Sympathy, Life Actions, Community, Effects, Cause
Herman Melville Human Connection, Sympathy, Life Actions, Community, Effects, Cause“If you are poor, avoid wine as a costly luxury; if you are rich, shun it as a fatal indulgence. Stick to plain water.” Herman Melville
Wine Indulgence, Rich Simplicity, Water Choice, Poor, Wine, Water
Herman Melville Wine Indulgence, Rich Simplicity, Water Choice, Poor, Wine, Water“Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope.” Herman Melville
Faith Tombs, Vital Hope, Dead Doubts, Faith, Tombs, Hope
Herman Melville Faith Tombs, Vital Hope, Dead Doubts, Faith, Tombs, Hope“Madman! Look through my eyes if thou hast none of thine own.” Herman Melville
Madman’s View, Lack Of Vision, Eye Perspective, Madness, Vision, Perception
Herman Melville Madman’s View, Lack Of Vision, Eye Perspective, Madness, Vision, Perception“The man that has anything bountifully laughable about him, be sure there is more in that man than you perhaps think for.” Herman Melville
Humor And Depth, Hidden Qualities, Personality Traits, Wisdom, Laughter, Character
Herman Melville Humor And Depth, Hidden Qualities, Personality Traits, Wisdom, Laughter, Character“Nevertheless, Leviathan is of so mighty a magnitude, all his proportions are so stately, that the same deficiency which in the sculptured Jove were hideous, in him is no blemish at all. Nay, it is an added grandeur. A nose to the whale would have been impertinent.” Herman Melville
Leviathan, Magnitude, Nature’s Beauty, Grandeur, Symbolism, Perfection
Herman Melville Leviathan, Magnitude, Nature’s Beauty, Grandeur, Symbolism, Perfection“Lo! ye believers in gods all goodness, and in man all ill, lo you! see the omniscient gods oblivious of suffering man; and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.” Herman Melville
Faith In Gods, Man’s Weakness, Love And Gratitude, Human Folly, Suffering, Gods Oblivious
Herman Melville Faith In Gods, Man’s Weakness, Love And Gratitude, Human Folly, Suffering, Gods Oblivious“I try all things, I achieve what I can.” Herman Melville
Personal Effort, Achievable Goals, Determined Spirit, Effort, Goals, Spirit
Herman Melville Personal Effort, Achievable Goals, Determined Spirit, Effort, Goals, Spirit“There is a woe that is wisdom, a woe that is madness.” Herman Melville
Wisdom Woe, Madness Contrast, Dual Suffering, Woe, Wisdom, Madness
Herman Melville Wisdom Woe, Madness Contrast, Dual Suffering, Woe, Wisdom, Madness“We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people – the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world.” Herman Melville
America, National Identity, Liberty, Patriotism, Freedom, Self-perception
Herman Melville America, National Identity, Liberty, Patriotism, Freedom, Self-perception