Being true Quote by Herman Melville
“Woe to him whom this world charms from Gospel duty. Woe to him who seeks to pour oil upon the waters when God has brewed them into a gale. Woe to him who seeks to please rather than to appal. Woe to him whose good name is more to him than goodness. Woe to him who, in this world, courts not dishonor! Woe to him who would not be true, even though to be false were salvation. Yea, woe to him who, as the great Pilot Paul has it, while preaching to others is himself a castaway.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Moby‑Dick, 1851
A lament that worldly allurements lead people away from true moral duty, causing hypocrisy and loss of integrity.
In simple terms: Worldly charms distract from genuine moral responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize authentic duty over superficial appeal.
Themes
morality
hypocrisy
integrity
spirituality
Mood
melancholic
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership
- public speaking
- community service
Key Concepts
theology
ethical dilemma
Questions to Reflect On
- What temptations pull you from your core values?
- How can you maintain integrity amid societal pressure?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue that compromise is necessary for survival.
![“[T]o be a castaway is to be caught up in grim and exhausting opposites.” quote by Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/06a/yann-martel-395_quote_t-o-be-a-castaway-is-to-be-caught-up-in_920243.jpg)
