--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no quality in this world that is…" description: "\"There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/herman-melville-162_contrast_there-is-no-quality-in-this-world-that-i_114983.jpg" --- # There is no quality in this world that is not what it is… ![“There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/herman-melville-162_contrast_there-is-no-quality-in-this-world-that-i_114983.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/herman-melville-162_contrast_there-is-no-quality-in-this-world-that-i_114983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/herman-melville-162_contrast_there-is-no-quality-in-this-world-that-i_114983.jpg) > “There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.” [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. All qualities are defined only through their opposites; nothing possesses intrinsic, isolated existence. **In simple terms:** Qualities exist only by contrast. Key Takeaway Relational definition of qualities. Themes philosophy duality perception Mood analytical thought‑provoking Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - art criticism - ethical debates - marketing positioning Key Concepts relativism ontological interdependence Practical Applications - use contrast to highlight product features Questions to Reflect On - Can something be truly unique without a reference point? - How does this view affect moral judgments? A Different Perspective May ignore absolute standards that some disciplines uphold. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Men there are, who having quite done with the world, all its merely worldly contents are become so far indifferent, that they carelittle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/men-there-are-who-having-quite-done-with-the-world-all-its-merely/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Yet the world is the same as it always was. It is merely that you see it with new eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/yet-the-world-is-the-same-as-it-always-was-it-is-merely-that-you-see/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“A clock in my world is merely for show... Time is not my chosen god.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-gene-petit/a-clock-in-my-world-is-merely-for-show-time-is-not-my-chosen-god/) [Brandon Gene Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-gene-petit/) > [The biggest fool in the world is he who merely does his work supremely well, without attending to appearance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-biggest-fool-in-the-world-is-he-who-merely-does-his-work/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Saving the world was merely a hobby. My \*vocation\* has been that of inspector of desert water holes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/saving-the-world-was-merely-a-hobby-my-vocation-has-been-that-of/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [If there is no passionate love for Christ at the center of everything, we will only jingle and jangle our way across the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/if-there-is-no-passionate-love-for-christ-at-the-center-of-everything/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [“Nobody could rule this world merely by peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/nobody-could-rule-this-world-merely-by-peace/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [The United States exists as a sovereign nation. 'America,' in contrast, exists as a myth of democracy and equal opportunity to live by, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bharati-mukherjee/the-united-states-exists-as-a-sovereign-nation-america-in-contrast/) [Bharati Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bharati-mukherjee/) > [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/) > [“Nothing exists until it is created.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-coalson/nothing-exists-until-it-is-created/) Les Coalson > [No good end exists for any dictator!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/no-good-end-exists-for-any-dictator/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I have to admit that I get quite emotional listening to the amazing talent that exists in the New York subways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-o-hare/i-have-to-admit-that-i-get-quite-emotional-listening-to-the-amazing/) [Lisa O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-o-hare/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [What's gone will never come back, but it exists when you think of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/what-s-gone-will-never-come-back-but-it-exists-when-you-think-of-it/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## 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 Contrast quotes > [You don't merely give over your creativity to making a film - you give over your life! In theatre, by contrast, you live these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/you-don-t-merely-give-over-your-creativity-to-making-a-film-you-give/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [Emotional Literacy means being able to recognise what you are feeling, so that it doesn't interfere with thinking. It becomes another dimension to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-orbach/emotional-literacy-means-being-able-to-recognise-what-you-are-feeling/) [Susie Orbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-orbach/) > [I believe in the people of our state and making sure the voices of the people of our state are heard in Washington. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-cunningham/i-believe-in-the-people-of-our-state-and-making-sure-the-voices-of/) [Cal Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-cunningham/) > [I have always liked the contrast between being blonde and having dark features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-have-always-liked-the-contrast-between-being-blonde-and-having-dark/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There's this one song called 'Final Warning' that I'm really excited about because I love the contrast of my vocal sounding very soothing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/there-s-this-one-song-called-final-warning-that-i-m-really-excited/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [Trump conducts meetings and actually tries to get something done rather than just have the meeting and rather than just announce a framework and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/trump-conducts-meetings-and-actually-tries-to-get-something-done/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [On the surface the avant garde as a whole seems united primarily in terms of what they are against: the rejection of social institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-innes/on-the-surface-the-avant-garde-as-a-whole-seems-united-primarily-in/) C. D. Innes > [One of the most durable successes of the war on poverty was to dramatically reduce the number of elderly poor in America. That's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-abramsky/one-of-the-most-durable-successes-of-the-war-on-poverty-was-to/) [Sasha Abramsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-abramsky/) > [All the classical meditation traditions, in one way or another, stress nonattachment to the self as a goal of practice. Oddly, this dimension is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/all-the-classical-meditation-traditions-in-one-way-or-another-stress/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Our national leaders tend to try to protect the national interest as they see it. They may screw up in that, but they at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/our-national-leaders-tend-to-try-to-protect-the-national-interest-as/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [Others have questions about how it is that God and human beings can both be speaking through the one document such that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/others-have-questions-about-how-it-is-that-god-and-human-beings-can/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) Browse all 859 Contrast quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. 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