--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had noticed also that Queequeg never…" description: "\"“I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the inn. He made no advances whatever; appeared ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg" --- # I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all… ![“I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the inn. He made no advances whatever; appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances. All this struck me as mighty singular; yet, upon second thoughts, there was something…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg) > ““I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the inn. He made no advances whatever; appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances. All this struck me as mighty singular; yet, upon second thoughts, there was something almost sublime in it. Here was a man some twenty thousand miles from home, by the way of Cape Horn, that is--which was the only way he could get there--thrown among people as strange to him as though he were in the planet Jupiter; and yet he seemed entirely at his ease; preserving the utmost serenity; content with his own companionship; always equal to himself. Surely this was a touch of fine philosophy; though no doubt he had never heard there was such a thing as that. But, perhaps, to be true philosophers, we mortals should no be conscious of so living or so striving. So soon as I hear that such and such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old woman, he must have 'broken his digester.”” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Queequeg’s solitary composure shows that deep inner peace can exist without social validation, reflecting a quiet, self‑contained philosophy. **In simple terms:** Inner peace without needing others. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner calm regardless of surroundings. Themes solitude inner peace philosophy self‑reliance Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - long sea voyages - cultural isolation - personal reflection - leadership - mindfulness Key Concepts existentialism stoicism self‑sufficiency Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance solitude with community? - What practices foster inner serenity? A Different Perspective His isolation may also signal loneliness or missed connections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gives Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gives-philosopher-713018/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophers Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers-mortals-4765272/) [Philosophy Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-doubt-1064041/) [Queequeg Consorted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queequeg-consorted-4765273/) [Second thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-thoughts/) [Thousand miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-miles/) ## Related quotes > [“Here was a man some twenty thousand miles from home, by the way of Cape Horn, that is - which was the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/here-was-a-man-some-twenty-thousand-miles-from-home-by-the-way-of/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So soon as I hear that such or such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-soon-as-i-hear-that-such-or-such-a-man-gives-himself-out-for-a/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [We cannot begin with complete doubt. We must begin with all the prejudices which we actually have when we enter upon the study ofphilosophy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/we-cannot-begin-with-complete-doubt-we-must-begin-with-all-the/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Can that which is the greatest virtue in philosophy, doubt (called by Galileo the father of invention), be in religion what the priests term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/can-that-which-is-the-greatest-virtue-in-philosophy-doubt-called-by/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [“Let us not pretend to doubt in philosophy what we do not doubt in our hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/let-us-not-pretend-to-doubt-in-philosophy-what-we-do-not-doubt-in-our/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [“My philosophy is ‘When in doubt, you can live without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christin-lovell/my-philosophy-is-when-in-doubt-you-can-live-without/) [Christin Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christin-lovell/) > [Philosophy is doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/philosophy-is-doubt/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [None are more liable to mistakes than those who act only on second thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/none-are-more-liable-to-mistakes-than-those-who-act-only-on-second/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Nobody knows what the future holds, but right now, I'm cool and comfortable and having no second thoughts at all about retirement. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/nobody-knows-what-the-future-holds-but-right-now-i-m-cool-and/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [“There can be no fooling ourselves into thinking this is something other than what it is—the willful ejection of Molly from our nest. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/there-can-be-no-fooling-ourselves-into-thinking-this-is-something/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [Understanding God is not attained by calling into session all arguments for and against Him, in order to debate whether He is a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/understanding-god-is-not-attained-by-calling-into-session-all/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [When you hear a word, think about it, no matter how dull it sounds! Because on the second thought, it may sound very clever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-hear-a-word-think-about-it-no-matter-how-dull-it-sounds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“You just asked me to marry you," he said, still waiting for me to admit some kind of trickery. "I know." "That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-just-asked-me-to-marry-you-he-said-still-waiting-for-me-to-admit/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [We seal our fate with the choices we take, but don't give a second thought to the chances we take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/we-seal-our-fate-with-the-choices-we-take-but-don-t-give-a-second/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Philosopher quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Since Pawlow and his pupils have succeeded in causing the secretion of saliva in the dog by means of optic and acoustic signals, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-loeb/since-pawlow-and-his-pupils-have-succeeded-in-causing-the-secretion/) [Jacques Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-loeb/) > [To become a philosopher, start by walking very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/to-become-a-philosopher-start-by-walking-very-slowly/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [As our domestic fowls are said to have their original in the wild pheasant of India, so our domestic thoughts have their prototypes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-our-domestic-fowls-are-said-to-have-their-original-in-the-wild/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I am neither a philosopher nor a thinker, but simply follower of my own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-am-neither-a-philosopher-nor-a-thinker-but-simply-follower-of-my/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I think that for thousands of years people have made the observation that there are certain kinds of extreme depressive states that seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-think-that-for-thousands-of-years-people-have-made-the-observation/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Browse all 2,194 Philosopher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the inn. He made no advances whatever; appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances. All this struck me as mighty singular; yet, upon second thoughts, there was something almost sublime in it. Here was a man some twenty thousand miles from home, by the way of Cape Horn, that is--which was the only way he could get there--thrown among people as strange to him as though he were in the planet Jupiter; and yet he seemed entirely at his ease; preserving the utmost serenity; content with his own companionship; always equal to himself. Surely this was a touch of fine philosophy; though no doubt he had never heard there was such a thing as that. But, perhaps, to be true philosophers, we mortals should no be conscious of so living or so striving. So soon as I hear that such and such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old woman, he must have 'broken his digester.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-consorted-at-all-or-but-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Philosopher" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-consorted-at-all-or-but-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/herman-melville-162_second-thoughts_i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-c_579264.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the…” — Herman Melville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I had noticed also that Queequeg...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-consorted-at-all-or-but-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-had-noticed-also-that-queequeg-never-consorted-at-all-or-but-very/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```