Winds Fain Quote by Herman Melville
““The port would fain give succor; the port is pitiful; in the port is safety, comfort, hearthstone, supper, warm blankets, friends, all that's kind to our mortalities. But in that gale, the port, the land, is that ship's direst jeopardy; she must fly all hospitality; one touch of land, though it but graze the keel, would make her shudder through and through. With all her might she crowds all sail off shore; in so doing, fights 'gainst the very winds that fain would blow her homeward; seeks all the lashed sea's landlessness again; for refuge's sake forlornly rushing into peril; her only friend her bitterest foe!””
About This Quote
Source Book: Moby‑Dick by Herman Melville, 1851
A ship seeks safety in a harbor but the very act of approaching endangers it, illustrating how refuge can become a threat when pursued recklessly.
In simple terms: Seeking safety can become dangerous if pursued without caution.
Key Takeaway
Beware that seeking comfort may create new risks.
Themes
risk
comfort
danger
journey
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- seafaring
- career decisions
- personal relationships
- health choices
Key Concepts
paradox
human frailty
navigation
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the refuge you seek truly safe?
- How might your desire for comfort create hidden dangers?
A Different Perspective
Safety can turn into peril when the pursuit ignores underlying hazards.
