Bible Quote by Herman Melville
““What of it, if some old hunks of a sea-captain orders me to get a broom and sweep down the decks? What does that indignity amount to, weighed, I mean, in the scales of the New Testament? Do you think the archangel Gabriel thinks anything the less of me, because I promptly and respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance? Who ain't a slave? Tell me that. Well, then, however the old sea-captains may order me about- however they may thump and punch me about, I have the satisfaction of knowing that it is all right; that everybody else is one way or other served in much the same way- either in a physical or metaphysical point of view, that is; and so the universal thump is passed round, and all hands should rub each other's shoulder-blades, and be content. ””
About This Quote
Source Book: Moby‑Dick by Herman Melville, 1851
The passage argues that suffering and subordination are universal; accepting them with humility connects us to a shared human experience.
In simple terms: We all endure hardship; accepting it unites us.
Key Takeaway
Embrace shared suffering as a path to solidarity.
Themes
humility
solidarity
human condition
acceptance
universal suffering
Mood
reflective
philosophical
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- naval life
- workplace oppression
- social injustice
- personal adversity
Key Concepts
existentialism
social hierarchy
spiritual equality
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you accept all hardships as inevitable?
- How can humility coexist with resistance?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the need to resist unjust authority.
