--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seat thyself sultanically among the moons…" description: "\"“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe. But from that s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/herman-melville-162_contemporary_seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moon_68694.jpg" --- # Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and… ![“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe. But from that same point, take mankind in mass, and for the most part, they seem a mob of unnecessary duplicates, both contemporary and hereditary.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/herman-melville-162_contemporary_seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moon_68694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/herman-melville-162_contemporary_seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moon_68694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/herman-melville-162_contemporary_seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moon_68694.jpg) > ““Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe. But from that same point, take mankind in mass, and for the most part, they seem a mob of unnecessary duplicates, both contemporary and hereditary.”” [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 passage reflects on the paradox of human uniqueness versus collective mediocrity, suggesting that while an individual can seem extraordinary, humanity as a whole often appears redundant. **In simple terms:** Individual grandeur vs. collective sameness Key Takeaway Greatness is solitary, mass is repetitive Themes existentialism human nature individualism collectivism philosophy Mood melancholy awe critical Type philosophical literary reflective When to use this quote - contemplating personal purpose - observing crowd behavior - philosophical writing - literary analysis Key Concepts identity loneliness societal critique Practical Applications - inspiring introspection - critiquing social conformity Questions to Reflect On - What defines true individuality? - How does society diminish uniqueness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstracted Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstracted-man-248741/) [Contemporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) [Duplicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duplicate/) [Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandeur/) [Hereditary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hereditary/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-mass-908030/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moons Saturn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moons-saturn-248739/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Saturn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturn/) [Saturn High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturn-high-248740/) [Seats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seats/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Thyself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thyself/) [Unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary/) [Woe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woe/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/seat-thyself-sultanically-among-the-moons-of-saturn-and-take-high-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [O Nature, and O soul of man! how far beyond all utterance are your linked analogies; not the smallest atom stirs or lives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/o-nature-and-o-soul-of-man-how-far-beyond-all-utterance-are-your/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Hong Kong cinema is something you can't duplicate anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/hong-kong-cinema-is-something-you-can-t-duplicate-anyway/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [You cannot duplicate Marion Lome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/you-cannot-duplicate-marion-lome/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [You are here for a purpose. There is no duplicate of you in the whole wide world. There never has been, there never will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-austin/you-are-here-for-a-purpose-there-is-no-duplicate-of-you-in-the-whole/) [Lou Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-austin/) > [When you make machines that are capable of obeying instructions slavishly, and among those instructions are 'duplicate me' instructions, then of course the system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/when-you-make-machines-that-are-capable-of-obeying-instructions/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ Bernard \[Leach\] was making pots which were duplicates of his drawing, and that was a difference of approach, which I think is quite critical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/bernard-leach-was-making-pots-which-were-duplicates-of-his-drawing/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so called scientific knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/until-man-duplicates-a-blade-of-grass-nature-can-laugh-at-his-so/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Wal-Mart's success strategies and tactics are easy to understand yet hard to duplicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bergdahl/wal-mart-s-success-strategies-and-tactics-are-easy-to-understand-yet/) [Michael Bergdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bergdahl/) > [A man's desire for a son is usually nothing but the wish to duplicate himself in order that such a remarkable pattern may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-man-s-desire-for-a-son-is-usually-nothing-but-the-wish-to-duplicate/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [So, the next film won't necessarily be modern-day Albany, Georgia but we're grateful for the films we've made (with Sherwood). The church is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kendrick/so-the-next-film-won-t-necessarily-be-modern-day-albany-georgia-but/) [Alex Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kendrick/) > [The premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe that the concatenation of self-existence, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-premises-being-thus-settled-i-proceed-to-observe-that-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [So they talk about heaven, and I don't know what is waiting for me up there. But I can tell you this: Nothing will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sabol/so-they-talk-about-heaven-and-i-don-t-know-what-is-waiting-for-me-up/) [Steve Sabol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sabol/) > [If you like how you do something duplicate it. If not change it until you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-like-how-you-do-something-duplicate-it-if-not-change-it-until/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## 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 Contemporary quotes > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“And for God's sake, don't let her watch Cinderella. What kind of example is that? A mindless twit who can't even remember where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/and-for-god-s-sake-don-t-let-her-watch-cinderella-what-kind-of/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [“No." I pulled away just enough to lock my eyes with his. His crooked smile sent shivers down my spine. His eyes were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-witter/no-i-pulled-away-just-enough-to-lock-my-eyes-with-his-his-crooked/) [Stephanie Witter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-witter/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [I'm educating myself more about world poetry. 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It's very contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goldblum/going-back-to-the-noir-fiction-of-the-30s-40s-and-50s-it-s-very/) [Jeff Goldblum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goldblum/) > [Most of my contemporary grant-getters are now doing something other than painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/most-of-my-contemporary-grant-getters-are-now-doing-something-other/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [“The contemporary world has turned its back on the attempt and even on the desire to live reasonably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-contemporary-world-has-turned-its-back-on-the-attempt-and-even-on/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [No, it's interesting to remake a film for the contemporary audience today. I think it's a good idea; it needs to respect the original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/no-it-s-interesting-to-remake-a-film-for-the-contemporary-audience/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) [Browse all 1,586 Contemporary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Seat thyself sultanically among the moons of Saturn, and take high abstracted man alone; and he seems a wonder, a grandeur, and a woe. 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