Herman Melville Quotes

292 quotes in 3515 categories

• For whatever is truly wondrous and fearful in man, never yet was put into words or books. Book
• Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land. America
• To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee. Breath
• They talk of the dignity of work. The dignity is in leisure. Dignity
• Dream tonight of peacock tails, Diamond fields and spouter whales. Ills are many, blessing few, But dreams tonight will shelter you. Blessing
• No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses. Comprehend
• All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys. All
• See with what entire freedom the whaleman takes his handful of lamps-often but old bottles and vials, though. ... He burns, too, the purest of… April
• You cannot spill a drop of American blood without spilling the blood of the whole world.... We are not a nation, so much as a… American
• He says NO! In thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes. Cannot Make
• Why, ever since Adam, who has got to the meaning of this great allegory - the world? Then we pygmies must be content to have… Adam
• Prayer draws us near to our own souls. Draws
• Can it be, that the Greek grammarians invented their dual number for the particular benefit of twins? Benefit
• Meditation and water are wedded for ever. Inspirational
• If some books are deemed most baneful and their sale forbid, how then with deadlier facts, not dreams of doting men? Those whom books will… Atheism
• An intense copper calm, like a universal yellow lotus, was more and more unfolding its noiseless measureless leaves upon the sea. Calm
• Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil is forever grinning in upon me, holding the door ajar. ... What I feel most moved to write,… Ajar
• We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people - the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world. Americans
• All Profound things, and emotions of things are preceded and attended by Silence...Silence is the general consecration of the Universe. Silence is the invisible laying… All
• This divineness had that in it which, though commanding worship, at the same time enforced a certain nameless terror. Certain

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