Oh, God! to sail with such a heathen crew that have small touch of human mothers in them! Whelped somewhere by the sharkish sea. The white whale is their demigorgon. Hark! the infernal orgies!
Herman Melville
Heathen Crew, Sea Creatures, Obsession, Human Nature, Irony, Madness
Herman Melville’s Quotes On Topics
Gifts | Moons | Complexity | Firm Stance | Action | Enterprises | America | Self-reflection | Wrecks Pleased | Amity | Queen Woman | Captain Ahab | Imitation Success | Earthly Misery | Personal Space | News Contrast | Inner Battles | Easiest Life | Tornadoed Being | Civilization | More
More Herman Melville Quotes
“Soon his steady, ivory stride was heard, as to and fro he paced his old rounds, upon planks so familiar to his tread, that they were all over dented like geological sones, with the peculiar mark of his walk. Did you fixedly gaze, too, upon that ribbed and dented brow; there also, you would see still stranger footprints – the footprints of his one unsleeping, ever-pacing thought.” Herman Melville
Routine, Persistence, Character, Thought, Walk, Memory
Herman Melville Routine, Persistence, Character, Thought, Walk, Memory“Meditation and water are wedded for ever.” Herman Melville
Meditation Water, Ever Wedded, Water Connection, Meditation, Marriage, Peace
Herman Melville Meditation Water, Ever Wedded, Water Connection, Meditation, Marriage, Peace“I am, as I am; whether hideous, or handsome, depends upon who is made judge.” Herman Melville
Identity, Self-perception, Judgment, Reality, Confidence, Appearance
Herman Melville Identity, Self-perception, Judgment, Reality, Confidence, Appearance“No town-bred dandy will compare with a country-bred one- I mean a downright bumpkin dandy- a fellow that, in the dog-days of summer, will mow his two acres in buckskin gloves for fear of tanning his hands.” Herman Melville
Country Style, Summer Days, Rural Humor, Dandy, Style, Bumpkin
Herman Melville Country Style, Summer Days, Rural Humor, Dandy, Style, Bumpkin“Truth is in things, and not in words.” Herman Melville
Truth’s Nature, Words Deceiving, Truth Revealed, Things Over Words, Real Truth, Honest Revelation
Herman Melville Truth’s Nature, Words Deceiving, Truth Revealed, Things Over Words, Real Truth, Honest Revelation“Don’t whale it too much a’ Lord’s days, men; but don’t miss a fair chance either, that’s rejecting Heaven’s good gifts.” Herman Melville
Fair Chance, Heaven’s Gifts, Whale Guidance, Days, Heaven, Gifts
Herman Melville Fair Chance, Heaven’s Gifts, Whale Guidance, Days, Heaven, Gifts“He who is ready to despair in solitary peril, plucks up a heart in the presence of another. In a plurality of comrades is much countenance and consolation.” Herman Melville
Shared Courage, Solitary Peril, Comrade Consolation, Courage, Peril, Comrades
Herman Melville Shared Courage, Solitary Peril, Comrade Consolation, Courage, Peril, Comrades“Where do murderers go, man! Who's to doom, when the judge himself is dragged to the bar?” Herman Melville
Judgment Paradox, Doom Question, Moral Dilemma, Judgment, Doom, Moral
Herman Melville Judgment Paradox, Doom Question, Moral Dilemma, Judgment, Doom, Moral“The drama’s done. Why then here does any one step forth? – Because one did survive the wreck.” Herman Melville
Surviving Wreck, Drama End, Life Continuation, Drama, Wreck, Life
Herman Melville Surviving Wreck, Drama End, Life Continuation, Drama, Wreck, Life“He pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me around my waist, and said henceforth we were married.” Herman Melville
Marriage, Love, Commitment, Relationships, Intimacy, Connection
Herman Melville Marriage, Love, Commitment, Relationships, Intimacy, Connection“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“We become sad in the first place because we have nothing stirring to do.” Herman Melville
Emotional Struggles, Human Nature, Sadness, Boredom, Life Purpose, Loneliness
Herman Melville Emotional Struggles, Human Nature, Sadness, Boredom, Life Purpose, Loneliness“Let America add Mexico to Texas, and pile Cuba upon Canada; let the English overswarm all India, and hang out their blazing banner from the sun; two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer’s. For the sea is his; he owns it.” Herman Melville
America’s Legacy, Expansionism, Sea Dominance, Global Power, History, Colonialism
Herman Melville America’s Legacy, Expansionism, Sea Dominance, Global Power, History, Colonialism“We are not a nation, so much as a world; for unless we claim all the world for our sire, like Melchisedec, we are without father or mother.” Herman Melville
Nationhood, Identity, Worldview, Heritage, Ancestry, Leadership
Herman Melville Nationhood, Identity, Worldview, Heritage, Ancestry, Leadership“We die of too much life.” Herman Melville
Life Excess, Death Paradox, Living Limits, Life, Death, Paradox
Herman Melville Life Excess, Death Paradox, Living Limits, Life, Death, Paradox“There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes his whole universe for a vast practical joke.” Herman Melville
Life’s Joke, Queer Times, Strange Life, Life, Humor, Existence
Herman Melville Life’s Joke, Queer Times, Strange Life, Life, Humor, Existence“Let me look into a human eye; it is better than to gaze into sea or sky; better than to gaze upon God.” Herman Melville
Human Connection, Profound Gaze, Soul Reflections, Life Perspective, Wisdom, Empathy
Herman Melville Human Connection, Profound Gaze, Soul Reflections, Life Perspective, Wisdom, Empathy“The sailor is frankness, the landsman is finesse. Life is not a game with the sailor, demanding the long head.” Herman Melville
Sailor, Frankness, Life’s Philosophy, Humanity, Finesse, Realism
Herman Melville Sailor, Frankness, Life’s Philosophy, Humanity, Finesse, Realism