Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The symmetry of form attainable in pure fiction can not so readily be achieved in a narration essentially having less to do… — 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
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
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 fact is, that among his hunters at least, the whale would by all hands be considered a noble dish, were there… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Methinks we have hugely mistaken this matter of Life and Death. Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The late John Jacob Astor, a personage little given to poetic enthusiasm, had no hesitation in pronouncing my first grand point to… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
In the operative opinion of the world, he who is already fully provided with what is necessary for him, that man shall… — 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
