I am a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life… — 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 undeveloped. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
There is nothing namable but that some men will, or undertake to, do it for pay. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“...there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.” — 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
As with ships, so with men; he who turns his back to his foe gives him an advantage. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he had a great secret in him. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Soldier or sailor, the fighting man is but a fiend; and the staff and body-guard of the Devil musters many a baton. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
It may seem strange that of all men sailors should be tinkering at their last wills and testaments, but there are no… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will insist upon the universal application of a temporary feeling or opinion. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight, sharks will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship's decks,… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us so little for evermore, the poor fellows… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Man, in the ideal, is so noble and so sparkling, such a grand and glowing creature, that over any ignominious blemish in… — 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
Let us be Christians toward our fellow-whites, as well as philanthropists toward the blacks our fellow-men. In all things, and toward all,… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
...a man of true science uses few hard words, and those only when none other will answer his purpose; Where as the… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
I will frankly confess that after passing a few weeks in the valley of the Marquesas, I formed a higher estimate of… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
So, cutting the lashing of the waterproof match keg, after many failures Starbuck contrived to ignite the lamp in the lantern; then… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“However, a good laugh is a mighty good thing, and rather too scarce a good thing; the more's the pity. So, if… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The stillness of the calm is awful. His voice begins to grow strange and portentous. He feels it in him like something… — 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
There is the grand truth about Nathaniel Hawthorne. He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes.… — 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
So long as a man-of-war exists, it must ever remain a picture of much that is tyrannical and repelling in human nature. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has, is just after he awakes in the morning. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Surely a gentle sister is the second best gift to a man; and it is first in point of occurrence; for the… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
A beautiful woman is born Queen of men and women both, as Mary Stuart was born Queen of Scots, whether men or… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
In truth, a mature man who uses hair oil, unless medicinally, that man has probably got a quoggy spot in him somewhere. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Students of history are horror-struck at the massacres of old; but in the shambles, men are being murdered to-day. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
There are two places in the world where men can most effectively disappear - the city of London and the South Seas. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Not one man in five cycles, who is wise, will expect appreciative recognition from his fellows, or any one of them. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The idea of Jehovah was born here... Out of the rude elements of the insignificant thoughts thoughts that are in all men,… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver, but less daring. Thus with seamen: he who goes the oftenest round Cape Horn… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
That immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves, so far within us, that it remains intact though all the outer character seem gone;… — 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
The man's (a heathen south sea islander) a human being, just as I am; he has just as much reason to fear… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
When the passage "All men are born free and equal," when that passage was being written were not some of the signers… — 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
