Control Quote by Herman Melville
““What is it, what nameless, inscrutable, unearthly thing is it; what cozening, hidden lord and master, and cruel, remorseless emperor commands me; that against all natural loving and longings, I so keep pushing, and crowding, and jamming myself on all the time; recklessly making me ready to do what in my own proper, natural heart, I durst not so much as dare?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Moby‑Dick, 1851
A deep internal conflict drives a person to act against their natural desires, spurred by an unseen, relentless force.
In simple terms: Inner turmoil pushes us to act irrationally.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question hidden motivations.
Themes
conflict
obsession
inner struggle
Mood
intense
brooding
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career ambition
- creative projects
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
psychology
existential dread
Questions to Reflect On
- What unseen force drives your actions?
- Can you align your desires with your true self?
A Different Perspective
The focus on inner conflict may neglect external factors influencing behavior.
![“The book, as it stands, seems to me to be one of the most frightful muddles I have ever read, with scarcely a sound proposition in it beginning with page 45 [Hayek provided historical background up to page 45; after that came his theoretical model], and yet it remains a book of some interest…” quote by John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1df/john-maynard-keynes-1380_backgrounds_the-book-as-it-stands-seems-to-me-to-be_646533.jpg)
