--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more I consider this mighty tail, the…" description: "\"“The more I consider this mighty tail, the more do I deplore my inability to express it. At times there are gestures in it, which, though they would we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/herman-melville-162_skin-deep_the-more-i-consider-this-mighty-tail-the_543757.jpg" --- # The more I consider this mighty tail, the more do I… ![“The more I consider this mighty tail, the more do I deplore my inability to express it. At times there are gestures in it, which, though they would well grace the hand of man, remain wholly inexplicable. In an extensive herd, so remarkable, occasionally, are these mystic gestures, that I have…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/herman-melville-162_skin-deep_the-more-i-consider-this-mighty-tail-the_543757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/herman-melville-162_skin-deep_the-more-i-consider-this-mighty-tail-the_543757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/herman-melville-162_skin-deep_the-more-i-consider-this-mighty-tail-the_543757.jpg) > ““The more I consider this mighty tail, the more do I deplore my inability to express it. At times there are gestures in it, which, though they would well grace the hand of man, remain wholly inexplicable. In an extensive herd, so remarkable, occasionally, are these mystic gestures, that I have heard hunters who have declared them akin to Free-Mason signs and symbols; that the whale, indeed, by these methods intelligently conversed with the world. Nor are there wanting other motions of the whale in his general body, full of strangeness, and unaccountable to his most experienced assailant. Dissect him how I may, then, I but go skin deep; I know him not, and never will. But if I know not even the tail of this whale, how understand his head? much more, how comprehend his face, when face he has none? Thou shalt see my back parts, my tail, he seems to say, but my face shall not be seen. But I cannot completely make out his back parts; and hint what he will about his face, I say again he has no face.”” [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 whale’s mysterious tail gestures suggest an unknowable intelligence beyond human comprehension. **In simple terms:** The whale’s tail movements are mysterious and beyond our understanding. Key Takeaway Accept that some natural phenomena remain unknowable. Themes mystery nature communication humility Mood awe curiosity humble Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - whale watching - marine biology research - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts symbolism animal cognition existential limits Questions to Reflect On - What does the whale’s inscrutability teach us about our own limits? - How can we respect the unknown without fear? A Different Perspective Human language may be insufficient to describe alien-like behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mystic Gestures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystic-gestures-4540060/) [Signs and symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signs-and-symbols/) [Skin deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-deep/) [Symbols Whale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols-whale-4540059/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whale General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whale-general-4540061/) [Whale Methods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whale-methods-4540062/) [Whale Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whale-understand-2090316/) ## Related quotes > [“But if I know not even the tail of this whale, how understand his head? much more, how comprehend this face, when face he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-if-i-know-not-even-the-tail-of-this-whale-how-understand-his-head/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Dissect him how I may, then, I but go skin deep. I know him not, and never will. But if I know not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/dissect-him-how-i-may-then-i-but-go-skin-deep-i-know-him-not-and/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“What do I say to a whale, Galen?" I hiss. "Tell him to come closer." "No way." "Fine. Tell him to back up." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/what-do-i-say-to-a-whale-galen-i-hiss-tell-him-to-come-closer-no-way/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [So, cutting the lashing of the waterproof match keg, after many failures Starbuck contrived to ignite the lamp in the lantern; then stretching it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-cutting-the-lashing-of-the-waterproof-match-keg-after-many/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“The first thing you notice about New Orleans are the burying grounds - the cemeteries - and they're a cold proposition, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-first-thing-you-notice-about-new-orleans-are-the-burying-grounds/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Aunt Rosa, a fussy, angular, wild-eyed old lady, who had lived in a tremulous world of bad news, bankruptcies, train accidents, cancerous growths—until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/aunt-rosa-a-fussy-angular-wild-eyed-old-lady-who-had-lived-in-a/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“He read me another poem, and another one - and he explained the true history of poetry, which is a kind of secret, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/he-read-me-another-poem-and-another-one-and-he-explained-the-true/) [Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/) > [“The Neanderthals lived in Europe for more than a hundred thousand years and during that period they had no more impact on their surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/the-neanderthals-lived-in-europe-for-more-than-a-hundred-thousand/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [ALGEBRA is a general Method of Computation by certain Signs and Symbols which have been contrived for this Purpose, and found convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-maclaurin/algebra-is-a-general-method-of-computation-by-certain-signs-and/) [Colin Maclaurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-maclaurin/) > [Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/signs-and-symbols-rule-the-world-not-words-nor-laws/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Spirit channels through everything!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-marucci/spirit-channels-through-everything/) [Paula Marucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-marucci/) > [I saw through to the last sign and symbol, but I could not read her face. 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Manus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-c-manus/) ## 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. 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In an extensive herd, so remarkable, occasionally, are these mystic gestures, that I have heard hunters who have declared them akin to Free-Mason signs and symbols; that the whale, indeed, by these methods intelligently conversed with the world. Nor are there wanting other motions of the whale in his general body, full of strangeness, and unaccountable to his most experienced assailant. Dissect him how I may, then, I but go skin deep; I know him not, and never will. But if I know not even the tail of this whale, how understand his head? much more, how comprehend his face, when face he has none? Thou shalt see my back parts, my tail, he seems to say, but my face shall not be seen. 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