--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when…" description: "\"“it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when I gave him an emetic, and he heaved it up in small tacks, d'ye see. No possible way for him to digest that j..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/herman-melville-162_boomer_it-stayed-for-a-twelvemonth-or-more-when_768726.jpg" --- # it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when I gave him an… ![“it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when I gave him an emetic, and he heaved it up in small tacks, d'ye see. No possible way for him to digest that jack-knife, and fully incorporate it into his general bodily system. Yes, Captain Boomer, if you are quick enough about it, and have a mind to pawn…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/herman-melville-162_boomer_it-stayed-for-a-twelvemonth-or-more-when_768726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/herman-melville-162_boomer_it-stayed-for-a-twelvemonth-or-more-when_768726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/herman-melville-162_boomer_it-stayed-for-a-twelvemonth-or-more-when_768726.jpg) > ““it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when I gave him an emetic, and he heaved it up in small tacks, d'ye see. No possible way for him to digest that jack-knife, and fully incorporate it into his general bodily system. Yes, Captain Boomer, if you are quick enough about it, and have a mind to pawn one arm for the”” [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. The speaker describes a grotesque medical experiment that cannot be assimilated by the body, highlighting the futility of forcing incompatible substances into a system. **In simple terms:** A forced, incompatible intake harms the body. Key Takeaway Avoid imposing unsuitable elements on a system. Themes medicine body incompatibility Mood skeptical critical Type cautionary analytical When to use this quote - medical treatment - experimental drugs - dietary restrictions - physiological limits Key Concepts physiology digestion forced adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What systems have you tried to force incompatible parts into? - How can you recognize when something is fundamentally unsuitable? A Different Perspective The metaphor may overstate biological processes, reducing nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boomer/) [Captain Boomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captain-boomer-5946235/) [Gave Emetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-emetic-5946238/) [Stayed Twelvemonth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stayed-twelvemonth-5946237/) [Twelvemonth Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twelvemonth-gave-5946236/) ## Related quotes > [“More than anything, Boomer influence is a story of sheer numbers. As of the early 1980s, when the Boomer revolution really kicked off, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cannon-gibney/more-than-anything-boomer-influence-is-a-story-of-sheer-numbers-as-of/) [Bruce Cannon Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cannon-gibney/) > [“Boomer took bites of all six varieties, contemplating each one and "guring out the order in which he would then eat them. “I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/boomer-took-bites-of-all-six-varieties-contemplating-each-one-and/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“As we hit November, the cold weather sets in and the first few snowfalls arrive. It’s the beginning of the festive season. At least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-millennial/as-we-hit-november-the-cold-weather-sets-in-and-the-first-few/) [I.M. Millennial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-millennial/) > [Well, the big elephant in the whole system is the baby boomer generation that marches through like a herd of elephants. And we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/well-the-big-elephant-in-the-whole-system-is-the-baby-boomer/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I was born in March 1949, a post war baby boomer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-english/i-was-born-in-march-1949-a-post-war-baby-boomer/) [Jon English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-english/) > [“As Molly wrapped one of the freshly made flour tortillas around several slices of perfectly cooked steak and piled on guacamole, she began talking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-swann/as-molly-wrapped-one-of-the-freshly-made-flour-tortillas-around/) [Joyce Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-swann/) > [“It looks like Animal and Miss piggy had sex," I said. "And this was the spawn." "My eyes!" Boomer cried. "My eyes! I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/it-looks-like-animal-and-miss-piggy-had-sex-i-said-and-this-was-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The baby boomer generation, my own, is content, if of the Left, to live out our remaining years upon the work and upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/the-baby-boomer-generation-my-own-is-content-if-of-the-left-to-live/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [As a baby boomer myself, I can tell you we are part of the have-it-all generation. We pretend never to age and often do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/as-a-baby-boomer-myself-i-can-tell-you-we-are-part-of-the-have-it-all/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [The well-heeled Baby Boomer demographic, which has discretionary money to spend on gambling, has long been a primary target for casinos ...And given yesterday's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/the-well-heeled-baby-boomer-demographic-which-has-discretionary-money/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [“You play those dimples like an exquisite orchestra, Mr. Boomer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-willows/you-play-those-dimples-like-an-exquisite-orchestra-mr-boomer/) [Grace Willows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-willows/) > [Dash is for sure straight!" Boomer announced. "He has a super-pretty ex-girlfriend named Sofia, who I think he still has a thing for, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/dash-is-for-sure-straight-boomer-announced-he-has-a-super-pretty-ex/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [One of the hallmarks of the baby boomer generation is that it doesnt live like the previous generation. It hasnt yet given up jeans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-klugman/one-of-the-hallmarks-of-the-baby-boomer-generation-is-that-it-doesnt/) [Ron Klugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-klugman/) > [“Placing his snout on the edge of my bed, Boomer pricks up his ears and widens his smiling eyes when I turn my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-white/placing-his-snout-on-the-edge-of-my-bed-boomer-pricks-up-his-ears-and/) [Jeffrey A. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-white/) > [“I showed him the Post-it. “You see They’re from Lily.” “Who’s Lily?” “Some girl.” “Ooh... a girl!” “Boomer, we’re not in third grade anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-showed-him-the-post-it-you-see-they-re-from-lily-who-s-lily-some/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## 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 Boomer quotes > [“More than anything, Boomer influence is a story of sheer numbers. As of the early 1980s, when the Boomer revolution really kicked off, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cannon-gibney/more-than-anything-boomer-influence-is-a-story-of-sheer-numbers-as-of/) [Bruce Cannon Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cannon-gibney/) > [“Placing his snout on the edge of my bed, Boomer pricks up his ears and widens his smiling eyes when I turn my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-white/placing-his-snout-on-the-edge-of-my-bed-boomer-pricks-up-his-ears-and/) [Jeffrey A. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-white/) > [One of the hallmarks of the baby boomer generation is that it doesnt live like the previous generation. It hasnt yet given up jeans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-klugman/one-of-the-hallmarks-of-the-baby-boomer-generation-is-that-it-doesnt/) [Ron Klugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-klugman/) > [Dash is for sure straight!" Boomer announced. "He has a super-pretty ex-girlfriend named Sofia, who I think he still has a thing for, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/dash-is-for-sure-straight-boomer-announced-he-has-a-super-pretty-ex/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“You play those dimples like an exquisite orchestra, Mr. Boomer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-willows/you-play-those-dimples-like-an-exquisite-orchestra-mr-boomer/) [Grace Willows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-willows/) > [The well-heeled Baby Boomer demographic, which has discretionary money to spend on gambling, has long been a primary target for casinos ...And given yesterday's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/the-well-heeled-baby-boomer-demographic-which-has-discretionary-money/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [As a baby boomer myself, I can tell you we are part of the have-it-all generation. We pretend never to age and often do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/as-a-baby-boomer-myself-i-can-tell-you-we-are-part-of-the-have-it-all/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [“The baby boomer generation, my own, is content, if of the Left, to live out our remaining years upon the work and upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/the-baby-boomer-generation-my-own-is-content-if-of-the-left-to-live/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“It looks like Animal and Miss piggy had sex," I said. "And this was the spawn." "My eyes!" Boomer cried. "My eyes! I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/it-looks-like-animal-and-miss-piggy-had-sex-i-said-and-this-was-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“As Molly wrapped one of the freshly made flour tortillas around several slices of perfectly cooked steak and piled on guacamole, she began talking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-swann/as-molly-wrapped-one-of-the-freshly-made-flour-tortillas-around/) [Joyce Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-swann/) > [I was born in March 1949, a post war baby boomer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-english/i-was-born-in-march-1949-a-post-war-baby-boomer/) [Jon English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-english/) > [Well, the big elephant in the whole system is the baby boomer generation that marches through like a herd of elephants. And we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/well-the-big-elephant-in-the-whole-system-is-the-baby-boomer/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [“As we hit November, the cold weather sets in and the first few snowfalls arrive. It’s the beginning of the festive season. At least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-millennial/as-we-hit-november-the-cold-weather-sets-in-and-the-first-few/) [I.M. Millennial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-millennial/) > [“Boomer took bites of all six varieties, contemplating each one and "guring out the order in which he would then eat them. “I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/boomer-took-bites-of-all-six-varieties-contemplating-each-one-and/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“I showed him the Post-it. “You see They’re from Lily.” “Who’s Lily?” “Some girl.” “Ooh... a girl!” “Boomer, we’re not in third grade anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-showed-him-the-post-it-you-see-they-re-from-lily-who-s-lily-some/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) [Browse all 34 Boomer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boomer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when I gave him an emetic, and he heaved it up in small tacks, d'ye see. 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