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Herman Melville Quotes - Page 3

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Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses, - for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it - not in a set way and ostentatiously, though, but incidentally and without

Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses, - for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it - not in a set way and ostentatiously, though, but incidentally and without premeditation.

Herman Melville
Strength, Literature, Way
Herman Melville, Lynn Horth (1993). “Correspondence”, p.196, Northwestern University Press

Mystery is in the morning, and mystery in the night, and the beauty of mystery is everywhere; but still the plain truth remains, that mouth and purse must be filled.

Herman Melville
Morning, Night, Purses
Herman Melville (1988). “The Confidence-man: His Masquerade”, p.198, Northwestern University Press

If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least.

Herman Melville
World, Dinner, Ifs
Herman Melville (1892). “Moby Dick”, p.420

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

Herman Melville
Happiness, Smile, Laughter
Herman Melville (1963). “Works”

Truth is in things, and not in words.

Herman Melville
Truth Is
Herman Melville (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Herman Melville (Illustrated)”, p.779, Delphi Classics

When the passage "All men are born free and equal," when that passage was being written were not some of the signers legalised owners of slaves?

Herman Melville
Men, Slavery, Born
Herman Melville (1963). “Billy Budd, and other prose pieces, edited by R. W. Weaver”

A ship is a bit of terra firma cut off from the main; it is a state in itself; and the captain is its king.

Herman Melville
Kings, Cutting, Sea
Herman Melville (1970). “White-jacket: Or, The World in a Man-of-war”, p.23, Northwestern University Press

Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief that's more than either, the grief and sin of idleness.

Herman Melville
Work, Grief, Men
Herman Melville (2012). “Mardi: And A Voyage Thither (Annotated Complete Edition)”, p.153, Jazzybee Verlag

All Profound things, and emotions of things are preceded and attended by Silence... Silence is the general consecration of the universe. Silence is the invisible laying on of the Divine Pontiff's hands upon the world. Silence is at once the most harmless and the most awful thing in all nature. It speaks of the Reserved Forces of Fate. Silence is the only Voice of our God.

Herman Melville
Fate, Hands, Voice
"Pierre: or, The Ambiguities" by Herman Melville, (Bk. XIV, ch. 1), 1852.

There is no figure more common in scripture, and none more beautiful, than that by which Christ is likened unto light. Incomprehensible in its nature, itself the first visible, and that by which all things are seen, light represents to us Christ. Whose generation none can declare, but Who must shine upon us ere we can know aught aright, whether of things Divine or human.

Herman Melville
Beautiful, Light, Shining

Failure is the true test of greatness

Herman Melville
Greatness, Tests
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Julian Hawthorne (2015). “Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne: Letters, Diaries, Reminiscences and Extensive Biographies: Autobiographical Writings of the Renowned American Novelist, Author of “The Scarlet Letter”, “The House of Seven Gables” and “Twice-Told Tales””, p.1775, e-artnow

Nature is nobody's ally.

Herman Melville
Nature, Allies
Herman Melville, Douglas Robillard (2000). “The Poems of Herman Melville”, p.63, Kent State University Press

Doesn't the devil live forever; who ever heard that the devil was dead? Did you ever see any person wearing mourning for the devil?

Herman Melville
Mourning, Forever, Devil
Herman Melville (1892). “Moby Dick”, p.309

What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will insist upon the universal application of a temporary feeling or opinion.

Herman Melville
Men, Play, Feelings
Herman Melville (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Herman Melville (Illustrated)”, p.4895, Delphi Classics

Meditation and water are wedded for ever.

Herman Melville
Water, Meditation, Reverie
Herman Melville (2002). “Moby-Dick: A Picture Voyage : an Abridged and Illustrated Edition of the Original Classic”, p.13, Spinner Publications

Failure is the test of greatness.

Herman Melville
Greatness, Tests

To be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another.

Herman Melville
Literature, One Thing
Herman Melville (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Herman Melville (Illustrated)”, p.898, Delphi Classics

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.

Herman Melville
Book, Writing, Fleas
Moby Dick ch. 104 (1851)

I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don't believe it also. But when a man's religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him.

Herman Melville
Believe, Men, Thinking
'Moby Dick' (1851) ch. 17

...The silent reminiscence of hardships departed, is sweeter than the presence of delight.

Herman Melville
Gratitude, Departed, Hardship
Herman Melville (1863). “Redburn: His First Voyage: Being the Sailor-boy Confessions and Reminiscences O the Son-of-a-gentleman, in the Merchant Service”, p.376

Truth is ever incoherent, and when the big hearts strike together, the concussion is a little stunning.

Herman Melville
Heart, Together, Littles
Herman Melville (2003). “Moby-Dick”, p.604, Bantam Classics

Man is a money-making animal, which propensity too often interferes with his benevolence.

Herman Melville
Money, Animal, Men
Herman Melville (2012). “Moby Dick (Illustrated & Annotated Edition)”, p.446, Jazzybee Verlag

The most mighty of nature's laws is this, that out of Death she brings Life.

Herman Melville
Nature, Law
Herman Melville (1971). “Pierre, Or The Ambiguities: Volume Seven, Scholarly Edition”, p.9, Northwestern University Press

True places are not found on maps.

Herman Melville
Maps, Found

Ladies are like creeds; if you cannot speak well of them, say nothing.

Herman Melville
Women, Religion, Speak
Herman Melville (2016). “Redburn.His First Voyage”, p.296, Herman Melville

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