--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain…" description: "\"“To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.”\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg" --- # To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems… ![“To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg) > ““To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.”” [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. Expresses frustration at being angry over trivial matters, calling it unreasonable. **In simple terms:** Anger over small things is foolish. Key Takeaway Pause before reacting to minor annoyances. Themes anger frustration irrationality selfcontrol Mood contemplative critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - online debates - personal setbacks Key Concepts ethics emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - Why do we let minor irritations trigger big anger? - What strategies help keep perspective? A Different Perspective Sometimes strong emotions are justified despite the issue’s size. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Blasphemous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemous/) [Captain Ahab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captain-ahab/) ## Related quotes > [“Vengeance on a dumb brute!" cried Starbuck, "that simply smote thee from blindest instinct! Madness! To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/vengeance-on-a-dumb-brute-cried-starbuck-that-simply-smote-thee-from/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“His three boats stove around him, and oars and men both whirling in the eddies; one captain, seizing the line-knife from his broken prow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/his-three-boats-stove-around-him-and-oars-and-men-both-whirling-in/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“one captain, seizing the line-knife from his broken prow, had dashed at the whale, as an Arkansas duelist at his foe, blindly seeking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/one-captain-seizing-the-line-knife-from-his-broken-prow-had-dashed-at/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [BLASPHEMOUS REVERENCE. Acting on the knowledge that the most efficacious form or devotion to the Divine Wow is tinctured with playful or mischievous behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/blasphemous-reverence-acting-on-the-knowledge-that-the-most/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [“Quinn seemed to have become one of a jaded philosophical society, a group of arcane deviates. Their raison d'etre was a kind of mystical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/quinn-seemed-to-have-become-one-of-a-jaded-philosophical-society-a/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [Let’s be realistic about this, the guitar can be the single most blasphemous device on the face of the earth. That’s why I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/let-s-be-realistic-about-this-the-guitar-can-be-the-single-most/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Neither antiquity nor any other nation has imagined a more atrocious and blasphemous absurdity than that of eating God. This is how Christians treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-the-great/neither-antiquity-nor-any-other-nation-has-imagined-a-more-atrocious/) [Frederick The Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-the-great/) > [A careless and blasphemous use of the name of the Divine Being is not only sinful, but it is also prima facie evidence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/a-careless-and-blasphemous-use-of-the-name-of-the-divine-being-is-not/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [A pox o’ your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-pox-o-your-throat-you-bawling-blasphemous-incharitable-dog/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As far as I'm concerned, if there is a supreme being then He chose organic evolution as a way of bringing into existence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-if-there-is-a-supreme-being-then-he-chose/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [“Ah. My story. Are you certain you wish to hear it? It is long, unlikely, and remarkably unedifying -- shameful, even, to come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/ah-my-story-are-you-certain-you-wish-to-hear-it-it-is-long-unlikely/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“You are nothing but an arrogant and blasphemous shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiberius-fox/you-are-nothing-but-an-arrogant-and-blasphemous-shit/) Tiberius Fox > [...I wondered if it was blasphemous to tell God that rainbows are kitsch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/i-wondered-if-it-was-blasphemous-to-tell-god-that-rainbows-are-kitsch/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [Abortion is the Antichrist's demonic parody of the eucharist. That's why it uses the same holy words, "This is my body," with the blasphemous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/abortion-is-the-antichrist-s-demonic-parody-of-the-eucharist-that-s/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“The central ideas of Christianity — an angry God and vicarious atonement — are contrary to every fact in nature, as also to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-central-ideas-of-christianity-an-angry-god-and-vicarious/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) ## 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 Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain-ahab-seems-blasphemous/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain-ahab-seems-blasphemous/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/herman-melville-162_anger_to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain_2092920.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.” — Herman Melville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To be enraged with a dumb...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain-ahab-seems-blasphemous/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/to-be-enraged-with-a-dumb-thing-captain-ahab-seems-blasphemous/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```