The Past is the textbook of tyrants; the Future is the Bible of the Free.
Herman Melville
Past Lessons, Tyrants’ Teachings, Freedom’s Bible, Historical Knowledge, Future Hope, Tyranny’s Rule
Herman Melville’s Quotes On Topics
Dance | Iron Hand | Ocean Metaphor | Elderly Aging | Exploring Life | Circulation | Unknown Forces | Outrageous Power | Dangerous | Fear | Frustration | Method | Madman’s View | Good Conscience | Promise | Meat Market | True Method | Irritable Nature | Communication | Fighting Spirit | More
More Herman Melville Quotes
“Old age is always wakeful; as if, the longer linked with life, the less man has to do with aught that looks like death.” Herman Melville
Wakeful Age, Life Death, Old Wisdom, Age, Life, Death
Herman Melville Wakeful Age, Life Death, Old Wisdom, Age, Life, Death“It is upon record, that three centuries ago the tongue of the Right Whale was esteemed a great delicacy in France, and commanded large prices there.” Herman Melville
Whale Delicacy, France History, Esteemed Taste, Whale, Delicacy, Taste
Herman Melville Whale Delicacy, France History, Esteemed Taste, Whale, Delicacy, Taste“It is impossible to talk or to write without apparently throwing oneself helplessly open.” Herman Melville
Self Expression, Writing Thoughts, Open Vulnerability, Talk, Expression, Writing
Herman Melville Self Expression, Writing Thoughts, Open Vulnerability, Talk, Expression, Writing“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“True places are not found on maps.” Herman Melville
Journey And Discovery, Self-exploration, Life Meaning, Adventure, Destinations, Travel
Herman Melville Journey And Discovery, Self-exploration, Life Meaning, Adventure, Destinations, Travel“The great Leviathan is that one creature in the world which must remain unpainted to the last.” Herman Melville
Leviathan, Mystery, Power, Creature, Unpainted, Symbolism
Herman Melville Leviathan, Mystery, Power, Creature, Unpainted, Symbolism“Wag the world how it will, Leaves must be green in Spring.” Herman Melville
Natural Cycles, Seasonal Truths, Spring Renewal, Wag, Leaves, Spring
Herman Melville Natural Cycles, Seasonal Truths, Spring Renewal, Wag, Leaves, Spring“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“Give not thyself up, then, to fire, lest it invert thee, deaden thee, as for the time it did me. There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness.” Herman Melville
Fire, Wisdom, Madness, Pain, Irony, Life Lessons
Herman Melville Fire, Wisdom, Madness, Pain, Irony, Life Lessons“Hell is an idea first born on an undigested apple dumpling.” Herman Melville
Hell Concept, Apple Dumpling, Philosophical Humor, Hell, Humor, Ideas
Herman Melville Hell Concept, Apple Dumpling, Philosophical Humor, Hell, Humor, Ideas“A soul’s a sort of a fifth wheel to a wagon.” Herman Melville
Soul And Purpose, Human Existence, Life’s Meaning, Philosophical Thoughts, Individuality, Purpose
Herman Melville Soul And Purpose, Human Existence, Life’s Meaning, Philosophical Thoughts, Individuality, Purpose“There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness. And there is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he for ever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than other birds upon the plain, even though they soar.” Herman Melville
Inner Strength, Mountain Eagle, Wisdom And Madness, Perseverance, Wisdom, Strength
Herman Melville Inner Strength, Mountain Eagle, Wisdom And Madness, Perseverance, Wisdom, Strength“But the might-have-been is but boggy ground to build upon.” Herman Melville
Boggy Ground, Futile Regrets, Unrealized Potential, Might-Have-Been, Ground, Regrets
Herman Melville Boggy Ground, Futile Regrets, Unrealized Potential, Might-Have-Been, Ground, Regrets“A noble craft, but somehow a most melancholy! All noble things are touched with that.” Herman Melville
Noble Craft, Melancholy Nature, Life’s Nobility, Noble Sadness, Craft’s Essence, Craft And Sadness
Herman Melville Noble Craft, Melancholy Nature, Life’s Nobility, Noble Sadness, Craft’s Essence, Craft And Sadness“While thus employed, the heavy pewter lamp suspended in chains over his head, continually rocked with the motion of the ship, and for ever threw shifting gleams and shadows of lines upon his wrinkled brow, till it almost seemed that while he himself was marking out lines and courses on the wrinkled charts, some invisible pencil was also tracing lines and courses upon the deeply marked chart of his forehead.” Herman Melville
Work, Experience, Symbolism, Life’s Path, Reflection, Ship’s Motion
Herman Melville Work, Experience, Symbolism, Life’s Path, Reflection, Ship’s Motion“And thus, though surrounded by circle upon circle of consternations and affrights, did these inscrutable creatures at the centre freely and fearlessly indulge in all peaceful concernments.” Herman Melville
Inscrutable Creatures, Peaceful Concernments, Fearless Circles, Creatures, Peaceful, Fearless
Herman Melville Inscrutable Creatures, Peaceful Concernments, Fearless Circles, Creatures, Peaceful, Fearless“And heaved and heaved, still unrestingly heaved the black sea, as if its vast tides were a conscience; and the great mundane soul were in anguish and remorse for the long sin and suffering it had bred.” Herman Melville
Black Sea, Mundane Soul, Sea, Soul, Suffering, Anguish
Herman Melville Black Sea, Mundane Soul, Sea, Soul, Suffering, Anguish“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