Old Sailors Quote by Archibald Gracie
““Not for fifty years, the old sailors tell us, had so great a mass of ice and icebergs at this time of the year been seen so far south. The pleasure and comfort which all of us enjoyed upon this floating palace, with its extraordinary provisions for such purposes, seemed an ominous feature to many of us, including myself, who felt it almost too good to last without some terrible retribution inflicted by the hand of an angry omnipotence.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ice Palace by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1920
The quote warns that abundant comfort and luxury may invite disaster, suggesting that excess can provoke a punitive force.
In simple terms: Too much comfort may bring misfortune.
Key Takeaway
Beware complacency in prosperity.
Themes
hubris
nature
impermanence
warning
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
cautionary
literary
When to use this quote
- ship voyages
- luxury travel
- resource abundance
- climate observation
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cosmic justice
human frailty
environmental change
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you take comfort for granted?
- What signs indicate impending change?
A Different Perspective
It may overstate supernatural retribution rather than natural causes.
