It is not the purpose of literature to purvey news. For news consult the Almanac de Gotha. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
For whatever is truly wondrous and fearful in man, never yet was put into words or books. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
A book in a man's brain is better off than a book bound in calf - at any rate it is safer… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“...the books that prove most agreeable, grateful, and companionable, are those we pick up by chance here and there; those which seem… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The names of all fine authors are fictitious ones, far more so than that of Junius,--simply standing, as they do, for the… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Book! You lie there; the fact is, you books must know your places. You'll do to give us the bare words and… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If some books are deemed most baneful and their sale forbid, how then with deadlier facts, not dreams of doting men? Those… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Of all human events, perhaps, the publication of a first volume of verses is the most insignificant; but though a matter of… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“[N]ot only is the most marvellous event in this book collaborated by plain facts of the present day, but that these marvels… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“But I must be content with only one more and a concluding illustration; a remarkable and most significant one, by which you… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“But how? Genius in the Sperm Whale? Has the Sperm Whale ever written a book, spoken a speech? No, his great genius… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
That author who draws a character, even though to common view incongruous in its parts, as the flying-squirrel, and, at differentperiods, as… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“been forgotten, but his longest novel, Moby-Dick — largely considered a failure during his lifetime, and responsible for Melville's drop in popularity… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
I don't know but a book in a man's brain is better off than a book bound in calf--at any rate it… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The world is forever babbling of originality; but there never yet was an original man, in the sense intended by the world;… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
I have written a wicked book, and feel spotless as the lamb. Ineffable socialities are in me. I would sit down and… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Nearly all literature, in one sense, is made up of guide-books. Old ones tell us the ways our fathers went, through the… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“I'll read it off, straight out of the book. Come, Almanack! To begin: there's Aries, or the Ram— lecherous dog, he begets… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Books, gentlemen, are a species of men, and introduced to them you circulate in the "very best society" that this world can… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“That mortal man who hath more of joy than sorrow in him, that mortal man cannot be true — not true, or… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.” — Herman Melville Copy Share
“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to… — Herman Melville Copy Share
“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go… — Herman Melville Copy Share
“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the… — Herman Melville Copy Share
“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the… — Herman Melville Copy Share
“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with… — Herman Melville Copy Share
“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does… — Herman Melville Copy Share
Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land. — Herman Melville Copy Share
“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and… — Herman Melville Copy Share
I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more… — Herman Melville Copy Share
War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim. — Herman Melville Copy Share
![“[N]ot only is the most marvellous event in this book collaborated by plain facts of the present day, but that these marvels (like all marvels) are mere repetitions of the ages.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/16e/herman-melville-162_books_n-ot-only-is-the-most-marvellous-event-i_1174131.jpg)
