Now, in calm weather, to swim in the open ocean is as easy to the practised swimmer as to ride in a spring-carriage ashore. But the awful lonesomeness is intolerable. The intense concentration of self in the middle of such a heartless immensity, my God! who can tell it?
Herman Melville
Open Ocean, Lonesomeness, Ocean Swim, Ocean, Solitude, Immensity
Herman Melville’s Quotes On Topics
Truth Revealed | Soul Connection | Healing Scars | Step | Perpetuity | Ambition | Guilt | Smile | Bodies | Harpoon Pitch | Past Pain | Ocean’s Beauty | Joyful Resurrection | Life Advice | Schoolmaster Sailor | Scale | Human Understanding | Signs | Lightning Pain | Criticism Avoidance | More
More Herman Melville Quotes
“The march of conquest through wild provinces, may be the march of Mind; but not the march of Love.” Herman Melville
Mind Conquest, Love Absence, Conquest, Love, Mind, Provinces
Herman Melville Mind Conquest, Love Absence, Conquest, Love, Mind, Provinces“Soldier or sailor, the fighting man is but a fiend; and the staff and body-guard of the Devil musters many a baton.” Herman Melville
Fighting Man, Devil Fiend, Soldier, Sailor, Fiend, Staff
Herman Melville Fighting Man, Devil Fiend, Soldier, Sailor, Fiend, Staff“All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys.” Herman Melville
Wars, Youth, Conflict, Masculinity, Humanity, Philosophy
Herman Melville Wars, Youth, Conflict, Masculinity, Humanity, Philosophy“There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.” Herman Melville
Contrast, Existence, Philosophy, Perception, Reality, Duality
Herman Melville Contrast, Existence, Philosophy, Perception, Reality, Duality“The shadows of things are greater than themselves; and the more exaggerated the shadow, the more unlike the substance.” Herman Melville
Shadows Substance, Exaggerated Shadows, Shadow Difference, Shadows, Substance, Exaggeration
Herman Melville Shadows Substance, Exaggerated Shadows, Shadow Difference, Shadows, Substance, Exaggeration“I do not think I have any uncharitable prejudice against the rattlesnake, still, I should not like to be one.” Herman Melville
Rattlesnake Prejudice, Uncharitable Thoughts, Disliked Creature, Prejudice, Thoughts, Creature
Herman Melville Rattlesnake Prejudice, Uncharitable Thoughts, Disliked Creature, Prejudice, Thoughts, Creature“Real strength never impairs beauty or harmony , but it often bestows it, and in everything imposingly beautiful, strength has much to do with the magic.” Herman Melville
Strength, Beauty, Harmony, Magic, Power, Balance
Herman Melville Strength, Beauty, Harmony, Magic, Power, Balance“Tis no dishonor when he who would dishonor you, only dishonors himself.” Herman Melville
Self Dishonor, Moral High, True Justice, Dishonor, Moral, Justice
Herman Melville Self Dishonor, Moral High, True Justice, Dishonor, Moral, Justice“Indolence is heaven’s ally here, And energy the child of hell: The Good Man pouring from his pitcher clear But brims the poisoned well.” Herman Melville
Indolence’s Ally, Energy And Hell, Goodness And Poison, Clear And Tainted, Evil’s Child, Heavenly Aid
Herman Melville Indolence’s Ally, Energy And Hell, Goodness And Poison, Clear And Tainted, Evil’s Child, Heavenly Aid“A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.” Herman Melville
Smile Ambiguity, Chosen Vehicle, Subtle Emotion, Smile, Ambiguity, Emotion
Herman Melville Smile Ambiguity, Chosen Vehicle, Subtle Emotion, Smile, Ambiguity, Emotion“All truth is profound.” Herman Melville
Profound Truth, Deep Insight, Truth, Profound, Insight, Knowledge
Herman Melville Profound Truth, Deep Insight, Truth, Profound, Insight, Knowledge“If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.” Herman Melville
Laughter, Irony, Life’s Paradoxes, Emotions, Mood, Reflection
Herman Melville Laughter, Irony, Life’s Paradoxes, Emotions, Mood, Reflection“You must have plenty of sea-room to tell the truth in.” Herman Melville
Truth Sea, Room Plenty, Honest Space, Truth, Sea, Space
Herman Melville Truth Sea, Room Plenty, Honest Space, Truth, Sea, Space“I will live and die by this testimony: that I loved a good conscience; that I never invaded another man’s liberty; and that I preserved my own.” Herman Melville
Good Conscience, Preserved Liberty, Testimony Life, Conscience, Liberty, Life
Herman Melville Good Conscience, Preserved Liberty, Testimony Life, Conscience, Liberty, Life“Pray God, not that; yet I fear something, Captain Ahab. Is not this harpoon for the White Whale?” “For the white fiend! But now for the barbs; thou must make them thyself, man. Here are my razors – the best of steel; here, and make the barbs sharp as the needle-sleet of the Icy Sea.” Herman Melville
White Whale, Harpoon Creation, Icy Sea, Whale, Harpoon, Sea
Herman Melville White Whale, Harpoon Creation, Icy Sea, Whale, Harpoon, Sea“Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them: the secret of our paternity lies in their grave, and we must there to learn it.” Herman Melville
Soul’s Origin, Orphaned Souls, Life’s Secrets, Philosophy, Orphans, Knowledge
Herman Melville Soul’s Origin, Orphaned Souls, Life’s Secrets, Philosophy, Orphans, Knowledge“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“The world’s a ship on its voyage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow.” Herman Melville
Life Journey, Spiritual Journey, World Views, Leadership, Purpose, Exploration
Herman Melville Life Journey, Spiritual Journey, World Views, Leadership, Purpose, Exploration