In childhood, death stirred me not; in middle age, it pursued me like a prowling bandit on the road; now, grown an… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“In those jaws of swift destruction, like another Jonah (by which name they indeed called him), bustles a little withered old man,… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he whose intense thinking thus makes him a… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“Thou hast but enraged, not insulted me, sir; but for that I ask thee not to beware of Starbuck; thou wouldst but… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“I have sat before the dense coal fire and watched it all aglow, full of its tormented flaming life; and I have… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he whose intense thinking thus makes him a… — Herman Melville Copy Share Image
“can't withstand thee, then, old man. Not reasoning; not remonstrance; not entreaty wilt thou hearken to; all this thou scornest. Flat obedience… — 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