With other men, perhaps, such things would not have been inducements; but as for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.
Herman Melville
Forbidden Seas, Remote Itch, Adventurous Spirit, Seas, Remote, Adventurous
Herman Melville’s Quotes On Topics
Sin | News Contrast | Coral Anchor | Love And Death | Unruly Ocean | Disorder | People’s Privacy | Art Of Living | Power | Evil | Ahab Quarterdeck | Serenity | Freedom Paradox | Men’s Folly | Spermaceti Angels | Saturn | First Sight | Water Vision | Wills | Lofty | More
More Herman Melville Quotes
“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“It is not the purpose of literature to purvey news. For news consult the Almanac de Gotha.” Herman Melville
Purpose Of Literature, News Contrast, Literary Purpose, Literature, News, Writing
Herman Melville Purpose Of Literature, News Contrast, Literary Purpose, Literature, News, Writing“But war is pain, and hate is woe.” Herman Melville
War Pain, Hate Woe, Conflict Reality, War, Pain, Hate
Herman Melville War Pain, Hate Woe, Conflict Reality, War, Pain, Hate“Genius is full of trash.” Herman Melville
Genius Trash, Creative Flaws, Genius Reality, Genius, Trash, Flaws
Herman Melville Genius Trash, Creative Flaws, Genius Reality, Genius, Trash, Flaws“Some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us so little for evermore, the poor fellows ought to be indulged.” Herman Melville
Death, Tyranny, Humanity, Morality, Irony, Compassion
Herman Melville Death, Tyranny, Humanity, Morality, Irony, Compassion“The transition is a keen one, I assure you, from a schoolmaster to a sailor, and requires a strong decoction of Seneca and the Stoics to enable you to grin and bear it.” Herman Melville
Schoolmaster Sailor, Stoics Transition, Strong Decoction, Schoolmaster, Stoics, Transition
Herman Melville Schoolmaster Sailor, Stoics Transition, Strong Decoction, Schoolmaster, Stoics, Transition“Heaven have mercy on us all – Presbyterians and Pagans alike – for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending.” Herman Melville
Heaven Mercy, Cracked Heads, Dreadful Need, Mercy, Head, Mending
Herman Melville Heaven Mercy, Cracked Heads, Dreadful Need, Mercy, Head, Mending“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“For though I tried to move his arm – unlock his bridegroom clasp – yet, sleeping as he was, he still hugged me tightly, as though naught but death should part us twain.” Herman Melville
Love And Death, Eternal Bond, Deep Emotions, Intimacy, Connection, Loyalty
Herman Melville Love And Death, Eternal Bond, Deep Emotions, Intimacy, Connection, Loyalty“For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness. Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease.” Herman Melville
Greatness And Tragedy, Ambition, Self-awareness, Human Flaws, Mortality, Wisdom
Herman Melville Greatness And Tragedy, Ambition, Self-awareness, Human Flaws, Mortality, Wisdom“The sun hides not the ocean, which is the dark side of this earth, and which is two thirds of this earth. So, therefore, that mortal man who hath more of joy than sorrow in him, that mortal man cannot be true – not.” Herman Melville
Ocean Truth, Mortal Joy, Hidden Darkness, Ocean, Mortal, Joy
Herman Melville Ocean Truth, Mortal Joy, Hidden Darkness, Ocean, Mortal, Joy“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“Top-heavy was the ship as a dinnerless student with all Aristotle in his head.” Herman Melville
Top-Heavy Ship, Dinnerless Student, Aristotle’s Influence, Philosophy, Ship, Knowledge
Herman Melville Top-Heavy Ship, Dinnerless Student, Aristotle’s Influence, Philosophy, Ship, Knowledge“No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.” Herman Melville
Animal Wisdom, Human Bonds, Philosophical Insight, Dogs, Horses, Insight
Herman Melville Animal Wisdom, Human Bonds, Philosophical Insight, Dogs, Horses, Insight“And what is it, thought I, after all! It’s only his outside; a man can be honest in any sort of skin.” Herman Melville
Honest Skin, Inner Virtue, External Appearance, Honest, Skin, Virtue
Herman Melville Honest Skin, Inner Virtue, External Appearance, Honest, Skin, Virtue“This divineness had that in it which, though commanding worship, at the same time enforced a certain nameless terror.” Herman Melville
Divinity, Worship, Fear, Terror, Power, Sacredness
Herman Melville Divinity, Worship, Fear, Terror, Power, Sacredness“In times of strong emotion mankind disdain all base considerations.” Herman Melville
Emotional Strength, Human Nature, Emotional Wisdom, Inner Power, Reactions, Mindset
Herman Melville Emotional Strength, Human Nature, Emotional Wisdom, Inner Power, Reactions, Mindset“In childhood, death stirred me not; in middle age, it pursued me like a prowling bandit on the road; now, grown an old man, it boldly leads the way, and ushers me on.” Herman Melville
Death Pursuit, Life Stages, Bold Leader, Death, Life, Leader
Herman Melville Death Pursuit, Life Stages, Bold Leader, Death, Life, Leader“The Past is the textbook of tyrants; the Future the Bible of the Free. Those who are solely governed by the Past stand like Lot’s wife, crystallized in the act of looking backward, and forever incapable of looking before.” Herman Melville
Past And Future, Freedom Vs Tyranny, History Lessons, Self-reflection, Forward Thinking, Time
Herman Melville Past And Future, Freedom Vs Tyranny, History Lessons, Self-reflection, Forward Thinking, Time