--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pulpit is ever this earth's foremost…" description: "\"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 the storm of God's quick w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/herman-melville-162_bows_the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth-s-foremost_202145.jpg" --- # The pulpit is ever this earth's foremost part; all the… ![“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 the storm of God's quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bearthe earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invokedfor favorable…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/herman-melville-162_bows_the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth-s-foremost_202145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/herman-melville-162_bows_the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth-s-foremost_202145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/herman-melville-162_bows_the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth-s-foremost_202145.jpg) > “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 the storm of God's quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bearthe earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invokedfor favorable winds. Yes, the world's a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow.” [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 pulpit, as a symbol of religious authority, guides society and is the first place where divine judgment and favor are expressed, steering humanity like a ship’s prow. **In simple terms:** Religious authority leads and influences society. Key Takeaway Recognize the impact of leadership and speak responsibly. Themes authority leadership religion influence Mood solemn reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - church sermons - political speeches - public debates - media commentary Key Concepts theology symbolism social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does authority shape public morality? - What responsibilities do leaders have to their followers? A Different Perspective Authority can be misused, leading to oppression or dogmatism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breeze/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Prophecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecy/) [Pulpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulpit/) [Voyages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyages/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrath/) ## Related quotes > [“What could be more full of meaning?—for the pulpit is ever this earth's foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/what-could-be-more-full-of-meaning-for-the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth-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/) > [“What could be more full of meaning?—for the pulpit is ever this earth's foremost part; all the rest come in its rear; the pulpit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/what-could-be-more-full-of-meaning-for-the-pulpit-is-ever-this-earth/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“I pondered some time without fully comprehending the reason for this. Father Mapple enjoyed such a wide reputation for sincerity and sanctity, that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-pondered-some-time-without-fully-comprehending-the-reason-for-this/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Truth is the silliest thing under the sun. Try to get a living by the Truth and go to the Soup Societies. Heavens! Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/truth-is-the-silliest-thing-under-the-sun-try-to-get-a-living-by-the/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [...that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second; and a second ended, only begins a third, and so on, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/that-one-most-perilous-and-long-voyage-ended-only-begins-a-second-and/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [It won't ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. 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Did not the priests teach so, in their gemmed, kingly robes, from their towering pulpits?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/the-humble-were-the-elect-of-god-did-not-the-priests-teach-so-in/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [Preaching is fire in the pulpit that melts the ice in the pew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/preaching-is-fire-in-the-pulpit-that-melts-the-ice-in-the-pew/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [Poetry and preaching do not go well together; when the preacher mounts the pulpit the poet usually goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/poetry-and-preaching-do-not-go-well-together-when-the-preacher-mounts/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## 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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