Were civilization itself to be estimated by some of its results, it would seem perhaps better for what we call the barbarous… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Civilization has not ever been the brother of equality. Freedom was born among the wild eyries in the mountains; and barbarous tribes… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does "fame" become, especially of the… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The result of civilization, at the Sandwich Islands and elsewhere, is found productive to the civilizers, destructive to the civilizees. It is… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“The fiendlike skill we display in the invention of all manner of death-dealing engines, the vindictiveness with which we carry on our… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The Anglo-Saxon hive have extirpated Paganism from the greater part of the North American continent; but with it they have likewise extirpated… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she has not even her full share of them. They flourish in greater… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the "big canoe" of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
When we affect to condemn savages, we should remember that by doing so we asperse our own progenitors; for they were savages… — 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 Image
“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 Image
“(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 Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
