--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Were this world an endless plain, and by…" description: "\"“Were this world an endless plain, and by sailing eastward we could for ever reach new distances, and discover sights more sweet and strange than any C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/herman-melville-162_travel_were-this-world-an-endless-plain-and-by_974003.jpg" --- # Were this world an endless plain, and by sailing eastward… ![“Were this world an endless plain, and by sailing eastward we could for ever reach new distances, and discover sights more sweet and strange than any Cyclades or Islands of King Solomon, then there were promise in the voyage. But in pursuit of those far mysteries we dream of, or in tormented chase…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/herman-melville-162_travel_were-this-world-an-endless-plain-and-by_974003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/herman-melville-162_travel_were-this-world-an-endless-plain-and-by_974003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/herman-melville-162_travel_were-this-world-an-endless-plain-and-by_974003.jpg) > ““Were this world an endless plain, and by sailing eastward we could for ever reach new distances, and discover sights more sweet and strange than any Cyclades or Islands of King Solomon, then there were promise in the voyage. But in pursuit of those far mysteries we dream of, or in tormented chase of the demon phantom that, some time or other, swims before all human hearts; while chasing such over this round globe, they either lead us on in barren mazes or midway leave us whelmed.”” [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 quote reflects on humanity’s endless quest for unknown horizons, noting that the pursuit of distant mysteries can lead to both wonder and confusion. **In simple terms:** Seeking the unknown can bring both awe and disorientation. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity but stay grounded. Themes exploration adventure illusion human nature Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - travel - scientific research - personal growth - creative projects Key Concepts existential yearning mythic symbolism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to chase distant goals? - How do you recognize when a quest becomes self‑defeating? A Different Perspective The journey may become a maze without clear purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [King Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-solomon/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Voyage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyage/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“Round the world! There is much in that sound to inspire proud feelings; but whereto does all that circumnavigation conduct? Only through numberless perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/round-the-world-there-is-much-in-that-sound-to-inspire-proud-feelings-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“go on a whaling voyage; this”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/go-on-a-whaling-voyage-this/) [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/) > [“Why did the poor poet of Tennessee, upon suddenly receiving two handfuls of silver, deliberate whether to buy him a coat, which he sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/why-did-the-poor-poet-of-tennessee-upon-suddenly-receiving-two/) [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/) [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/) > [“By reason of these things, then, the whaling voyage was welcome; the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open, and in the wild conceits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/by-reason-of-these-things-then-the-whaling-voyage-was-welcome-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-solomon-son-of-david/the-words-of-the-wise-are-like-goads-and-like-nails-firmly-fixed-are/) [King Solomon Son of David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-solomon-son-of-david/) > [The old age of methusalem have Nothin to do with the wisdom of king solomon ,u can be young and be wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kgedzah/the-old-age-of-methusalem-have-nothin-to-do-with-the-wisdom-of-king/) Kgedzah > [“Bad or evil things can be overcome with good things. The bible teaches that we Christians should always try and overcome evil with good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-v-songer/bad-or-evil-things-can-be-overcome-with-good-things-the-bible-teaches/) [Austin V. Songer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-v-songer/) > [“I am only sipping the second glass of that "fascinating, but subtle poison, whose ravages eat men's heart and brain" that I have ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/i-am-only-sipping-the-second-glass-of-that-fascinating-but-subtle/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“To a man without a country, He appeared a joint sojourner. To Joshua armed but afraid, He came a valiant warrior. To Moses raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/to-a-man-without-a-country-he-appeared-a-joint-sojourner-to-joshua/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [The Rastafari culture has a very strong connection to Haile Selassie, a descendant of King Solomon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/the-rastafari-culture-has-a-very-strong-connection-to-haile-selassie/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“You know the story in the bible? The one with the king and the two women fighting over the baby? Sure King Solomon. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/you-know-the-story-in-the-bible-the-one-with-the-king-and-the-two/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) ## 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 Travel quotes > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I travel all the time. I'm very restless you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-de-clercq/i-travel-all-the-time-i-m-very-restless-you-know/) [Eddy de Clercq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-de-clercq/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/) [Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/) > [Though there are some disagreeable things in Venice there is nothing so disagreeable as the visitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/though-there-are-some-disagreeable-things-in-venice-there-is-nothing/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [Often in my game as an actor, someone else pays for your travel and there's nothing like being able to lie flat on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/often-in-my-game-as-an-actor-someone-else-pays-for-your-travel-and/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [When I travel abroad, because I'm Columbian, I'm always one that they check twice and security and I'm the one that they open my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vergara/when-i-travel-abroad-because-i-m-columbian-i-m-always-one-that-they/) [Sofia Vergara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vergara/) > [A place has almost the shyness of a person, with strangers; and its secret is not to be surprised by a too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-the-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-and-its/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [I collect underwear from my travels. Lace, lingerie, bodysuits... they're like souvenirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/i-collect-underwear-from-my-travels-lace-lingerie-bodysuits-they-re/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [There is no budget for travel for a Shadow Foreign Secretary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/there-is-no-budget-for-travel-for-a-shadow-foreign-secretary/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [I have been lucky enough to travel a lot, meet great people in many lands. I have liked almost everyone I met along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/i-have-been-lucky-enough-to-travel-a-lot-meet-great-people-in-many/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) [Browse all 9,332 Travel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Were this world an endless plain, and by sailing eastward we could for ever reach new distances, and discover sights more sweet and strange than any Cyclades or Islands of King Solomon, then there were promise in the voyage. 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