Ladies are like creeds; if you cannot speak well of them, say nothing. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Charity, like poetry, should be cultivated, if only for its being graceful. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The worst of our evils we blindly inflict upon ourselves; our officers cannot remove them, even if they would. — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If you are poor, avoid wine as a costly luxury; if you are rich, shun it as a fatal indulgence. Stick to… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If Shakespeare has not been equalled, he is sure to be surpassed, and surpassed by an American born now or yet to… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If there be any thing a man might well pray against, that thing is the responsive gratification of some of the devoutest… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning aught amiss or calamitous in his family, a nation in the like circumstance may without… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
We should, if possible, prove a teacher to posterity, instead of being the pupil of by-gone generations. More shall come after us… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The entire merit of a man can never be made known; nor the sum of his demerits, if he have them. We… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Let us waive that agitated national topic, as to whether such multitudes of foreign poor should be landed on our American shores;let… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
The food of thy soul is light and space; feed it then on light and space. But the food of thy body… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
He who has never failed somewhere, that man can notbe great. Failure is the true test of greatness. And if it be… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
People think that if a man has undergone any hardship, he should have a reward; but for my part, if I have… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
To anybody who can hold the Present at its worth without being inappreciative of the Past, it may be forgiven, if to… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Though essaying but a sportive sail, I was driven from my course by a blast re sistless; and ill-provided, young, and bowed… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
Aside from higher considerations, charity often operates as a vastly wise and prudent principle-a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have committed… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
It is often to be observed, that as in digging for precious metals in the mines, much earthly rubbish has first to… — 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
