--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...that one most perilous and long voyage…" description: "\"...that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second; and a second ended, only begins a third, and so on, for ever and for aye. Such i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/herman-melville-162_effort_that-one-most-perilous-and-long-voyage-e_395977.jpg" --- # ...that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only… ![“...that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second; and a second ended, only begins a third, and so on, for ever and for aye. Such is the endlessness, yea, the intolerableness of all earthly effort.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/herman-melville-162_effort_that-one-most-perilous-and-long-voyage-e_395977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/herman-melville-162_effort_that-one-most-perilous-and-long-voyage-e_395977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/herman-melville-162_effort_that-one-most-perilous-and-long-voyage-e_395977.jpg) > “...that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second; and a second ended, only begins a third, and so on, for ever and for aye. Such is the endlessness, yea, the intolerableness of all earthly effort.” [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. Life’s struggles are a series of endless cycles, each effort leading to another, creating a feeling of perpetual toil. **In simple terms:** Efforts repeat endlessly, feeling endless. Key Takeaway Accept the cycle, find meaning in each step. Themes perseverance existentialism effort endlessness Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - career challenges - creative projects - long‑term goals - daily chores - relationship conflicts Key Concepts Stoicism nihilism human condition Questions to Reflect On - Do you see any ending in your efforts? - How can you create meaning despite endlessness? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook moments of resolution and satisfaction that break the cycle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aye Endlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aye-endlessness-3561870/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Endlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endlessness/) [Endlessness Yea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endlessness-yea-3561871/) [Intolerableness Earthly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerableness-earthly-3561873/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Voyage Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyage-ended-3561872/) [Voyages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyages/) ## Related quotes > [“Such is the endlessness, yea, the intolerableness of all earthly effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/such-is-the-endlessness-yea-the-intolerableness-of-all-earthly-effort/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Huge hills and mountains of casks on casks were piled upon her wharves, and side by side the world-wandering whale ships lay silent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/huge-hills-and-mountains-of-casks-on-casks-were-piled-upon-her/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [The pulpit is ever this earth's foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth-s-foremost-part-all-the-rest-comes-in/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Were this world an endless pain, and by sailing eastward we could forever reach new distances, and discover sights more sweet and strange than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/were-this-world-an-endless-pain-and-by-sailing-eastward-we-could/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/why-is-almost-every-robust-healthy-boy-with-a-robust-healthy-soul-in-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [The world's a ship on its voyage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-world-s-a-ship-on-its-voyage-out-and-not-a-voyage-complete-and/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Life’s a voyage that’s homeward bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/life-s-a-voyage-that-s-homeward-bound/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [If I had been downright honest with myself, I would have seen very plainly in my heart that I did but half fancy being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-i-had-been-downright-honest-with-myself-i-would-have-seen-very/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [We sat looking out at the ocean. There was just so much of it, and it never failed to take my breath away. Looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reinhardt/we-sat-looking-out-at-the-ocean-there-was-just-so-much-of-it-and-it/) [Dana Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reinhardt/) > [. . . Endlessness is a really strange idea in a universe that is defined by its endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/endlessness-is-a-really-strange-idea-in-a-universe-that-is-defined-by/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Souraya thought those days that she knew so many songs about the misery of love because pain kept love within the boundaries of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-storace/souraya-thought-those-days-that-she-knew-so-many-songs-about-the/) [Patricia Storace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-storace/) > [“The city had seemed like a great place to discover who you are. It just seemed that there was a lot to experience here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sari-botton/the-city-had-seemed-like-a-great-place-to-discover-who-you-are-it/) [Sari Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sari-botton/) > [“Until it has scared you with its endlessness, sky is just sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hubbard/until-it-has-scared-you-with-its-endlessness-sky-is-just-sky/) [Jenny Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-hubbard/) > [“Impatience, resentment, jealousy and endless "want" are not creative attractors and have no value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/impatience-resentment-jealousy-and-endless-want-are-not-creative/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The oceans never stop. They know no beginning or end. The wind never finishes. Sometimes it disappears, but only to gather momentum from somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/the-oceans-never-stop-they-know-no-beginning-or-end-the-wind-never/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) ## 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 Effort quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I love a pocket. I'm about helping women look as good as possible on the least amount of effort. I want versatility and comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-love-a-pocket-i-m-about-helping-women-look-as-good-as-possible-on/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) [Dayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayana/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Browse all 8,602 Effort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "...that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second; and a second ended, only begins a third, and so on, for ever and for aye. 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