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Herman Melville Quotes - Page 17

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There is all of the difference in the world between paying and being paid.

There is all of the difference in the world between paying and being paid.

Herman Melville
Differences, Literature, World
Herman Melville (2008). “Moby-Dick”, p.5, Velvet Element Books

But oh! shipmates! on the starboard hand of every woe, there is a sure delight; and higher the top of that delight, than the bottom of the woe is deep.

Herman Melville
Hands, Delight, Woe
Herman Melville (1892). “Moby Dick”, p.50

There is something in us, somehow, that, in the most degraded condition, we snatch at a chance to deceive ourselves into a fanciedsuperiority to others, whom we suppose lower in the scale than ourselves.

Herman Melville
Race, Class, Chance
Herman Melville (1850). “White-jacket: or, The world in a man-of-war”, p.265

Because no man can ever feel his own identity aright except his eyes be closed; as if darkness were indeed the proper element of our essences, though light be more congenial to our clayey part.

Herman Melville
Eye, Men, Light
Herman Melville (2016). “Moby-Dick: Or, the Whale”, p.69, Cosimo, Inc.

The man that has anything bountifully laughable about him, be sure there is more in that man than you perhaps think for.

Herman Melville
Laughter, Men, Thinking
Herman Melville (2016). “Moby-Dick: Or, the Whale”, p.46, Cosimo, Inc.

It may seem strange that of all men sailors should be tinkering at their last wills and testaments, but there are no people in the world more fond of that diversion.

Herman Melville
Men, People, May
1851 Moby Dick, ch.49.

Implacable I, the implacable Sea; Implacable most when most I smile serene- Pleased, not appeased, by myriad wrecks in me.

Herman Melville
Sea, Wrecks, I Smile
Herman Melville (1991). “Selected Poems of Herman Melville”, p.121, Fordham Univ Press

Man, in the ideal, is so noble and so sparkling, such a grand and glowing creature, that over any ignominious blemish in him all his fellows should run to throw their costliest robes.

Herman Melville
Running, Men, Glowing
Herman Melville (2008). “Moby-Dick”, p.127, Velvet Element Books

Our institutions have a potent digestion, and may in time convert and assimilate to good all elements thrown in, however originally alien.

Herman Melville
Elements, May, Digestion
Herman Melville (2006). “Selected Poems (Melville, Herman)”, p.137, Penguin

Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she has not even her full share of them. They flourish in greater abundance and attain greater strength among many barbarous people. The hospitality of the wild Arab, the courage of the North American Indian, and the faithful friendships of some of the Polynesian nations, far surpass any thing of a similar kind among the polished communities of Europe.

Herman Melville
Europe, Civilization, People
Herman Melville (2012). “Typee: A Romance of the South Seas (Illustrated & Annotated Edition)”, p.211, Jazzybee Verlag

It is the horrible texture of a fabric that should be woven of ships' cables and hawsers. A Polar wind blows through it, and birds of prey hover over it.

Herman Melville
Blow, Wind, Bird

In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.

Herman Melville
Obedience, Peril, Command
Herman Melville (1850). “White-jacket: or, The world in a man-of-war”, p.114

There is no life in thee, now, except that rocking life imparted by a gently rolling ship; by her, borrowed from the sea; by the sea, from the inscrutable tides of God.

Herman Melville
Sea, Tides, Rolling
Herman Melville (2016). “Moby-Dick: Or, the Whale”, p.151, Cosimo, Inc.

The American, who up to the present day, has evinced, in Literature, the largest brain with the largest heart, that man is Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Herman Melville
Heart, Men, Brain
Herman Melville (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Herman Melville (Illustrated)”, p.5137, Delphi Classics

We should, if possible, prove a teacher to posterity, instead of being the pupil of by-gone generations. More shall come after us than have gone before; the world is not yet middle-aged.

Herman Melville
Teacher, Generations, Gone
Herman Melville (1850). “White-jacket: or, The world in a man-of-war”, p.151

Leviathan is not the biggest fish; — I have heard of Krakens.

Herman Melville
Kraken, Leviathan, Fishes
Herman Melville, Lynn Horth (1993). “Correspondence”, p.213, Northwestern University Press

All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys, The champions and enthusiasts of the state: Turbid ardors and vain joys Not barrenly abate-- Stimulants to the power mature, Preparatives of fate.

Herman Melville
War, Fate, Boys
Herman Melville, Douglas Robillard (2000). “The Poems of Herman Melville”, p.58, Kent State University Press

War being the greatest of evils, all its accessories necessarily partake of the same character.

Herman Melville
War, Character, Evil
Herman Melville (1850). “Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life, During a Four Months' Residence in the Valley of the Marquesas”

There is no dignity in wickedness, whether in purple or rags; and hell is a democracy of devils, where all are equals.

Herman Melville
Purple, Devil, Democracy
Herman Melville (2016). “Redburn.His First Voyage”, p.310, Herman Melville

That immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves, so far within us, that it remains intact though all the outer character seem gone; bleeds with keenest anguish at the undraped spectacle of a valor-ruined man.

Herman Melville
Character, Men, Gone
Herman Melville (2008). “Moby-Dick”, p.127, Velvet Element Books

It is-or seems to be-a wise sort of thing, to realise that all that happens to a man in this life is only by way of joke, especially his misfortunes, if he have them. And it is also worth bearing in mind, that the joke is passed round pretty liberally & impartially, so that not very many are entitled to fancy that they in particular are getting the worst of it.

Herman Melville
Wise, Men, Mind
Herman Melville, Lynn Horth (1993). “Correspondence”, p.203, Northwestern University Press

Whatever has made, or does make, or may make music, should be held sacred as the golden bridle-bit of the Shah of Persia's horse,and the golden hammer, with which his hoofs are shod.

Herman Melville
Horse, Musical, Golden
Herman Melville (2016). “Redburn.His First Voyage”, p.280, Herman Melville

Nothing may help or heal While Amor incensed remembers wrong.

Herman Melville
Amor, May, Helping
Herman Melville (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Herman Melville (Illustrated)”, p.4237, Delphi Classics

The earliest instinct of the child, and the ripest experience of age, unite in affirming simplicity to be the truest and profoundest part for man. Likewise this simplicity is so universal and all-containing as a rule for human life, that the subtlest bad man, and the purest good man, as well as the profoundest wise man, do all alike present it on that side which they socially turn to the inquisitive and unscrupulous world.

Herman Melville
Wise, Children, Men
Herman Melville (2016). “Pierre or The Ambiguities”, p.287, Herman Melville

Twelve o'clock! It is the natural centre, key-stone, and very heart of the day. At that hour, the sun has arrived at the top of his hill; and as he seems to hang poised there a while, before coming down on the other side, it is but reasonable to suppose that he is then stopping to dine; setting an eminent example to all mankind.

Herman Melville
Heart, Keys, Stopping
Herman Melville (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Herman Melville (Illustrated)”, p.1428, Delphi Classics

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