Let me look into a human eye; it is better than to gaze into sea or sky; better than to gaze upon… — 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
The grand points in human nature are the same to-day they were a thousand years ago. The only variability in them is… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
There is no Champollion to decipher the Egypt of every man's and every being's face. Physiognomy, like every other human science,is but… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Poor fish of Rodondo! in your victimized confidence, you are of the number of those who inconsiderately trust, while they do not… — 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
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
For in tremendous extremities human souls are like drowning men; well enough they know they are in peril; well enough they know… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
It is well known, that the best productions of the best human intellects, are generally regarded by those intellects as mere immature… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
An indiscriminate distrust of human nature is the worst consequence of a miserable condition, whether brought about by innocence or guilt. And… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
He, who, in view of its inconsistencies, says of human nature the same that, in view of its contrasts, is said of… — 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
There is no figure more common in scripture, and none more beautiful, than that by which Christ is likened unto light. Incomprehensible… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The earliest instinct of the child, and the ripest experience of age, unite in affirming simplicity to be the truest and profoundest… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
One trembles to think of that mysterious thing in the soul, which seems to acknowledge no human jurisdiction, but in spite of… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
But the past is passed; why moralize upon it? Forget it. See, yon bright son has forgotten it all, and the blue… — 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
