--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is best let alone, that accursed…" description: "\"“What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.”\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg" --- # What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always… ![“What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg) > ““What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.”” [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 warns that what we think is desirable may be deceptive, and true value lies elsewhere. **In simple terms:** Desires can be misleading. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about what you truly want. Themes desire deception values Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - personal decisions - consumer choices - career moves - relationship expectations Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking psychology Questions to Reflect On - What do you value beyond surface appeal? - How can you test if a desire is truly beneficial? A Different Perspective It may be hard to distinguish genuine benefit from alluring illusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accursed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accursed/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, this is a story about books.” “About books?” “About accursed books, about the man who wrote them, about a character who broke out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/well-this-is-a-story-about-books-about-books-about-accursed-books-2/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Accursed who brings to light of day the writings I have cast away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/accursed-who-brings-to-light-of-day-the-writings-i-have-cast-away/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“The ears of our generation have been made so delicate by the senseless multitude of flatterers that, as soon as we perceive that anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-ears-of-our-generation-have-been-made-so-delicate-by-the-2/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The accursed hunger for gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/the-accursed-hunger-for-gold/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“Accursed! Accursed! You shall be accursed to the thirteenth generation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/accursed-accursed-you-shall-be-accursed-to-the-thirteenth-generation/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [Accursed be he who plays with the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/accursed-be-he-who-plays-with-the-devil/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“Meradinis! Turtle Island! It was a little corner of chaos! This was the scene the speeding black ship had left behind three days ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/meradinis-turtle-island-it-was-a-little-corner-of-chaos-this-was-the/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [“For The Accursed is intended as a work of inquiring moral complexity, and not a “sensationalist” rehashing of an old, dread scandal far better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/for-the-accursed-is-intended-as-a-work-of-inquiring-moral-complexity/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Accursed be he that first invented war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/accursed-be-he-that-first-invented-war/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [“What would happen if you didn’t do the thing you “have to” do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brodie/what-would-happen-if-you-didn-t-do-the-thing-you-have-to-do/) [Richard Brodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brodie/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) ## 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 Accursed quotes > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Accursed be he that first invented war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/accursed-be-he-that-first-invented-war/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“For The Accursed is intended as a work of inquiring moral complexity, and not a “sensationalist” rehashing of an old, dread scandal far better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/for-the-accursed-is-intended-as-a-work-of-inquiring-moral-complexity/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Meradinis! Turtle Island! It was a little corner of chaos! This was the scene the speeding black ship had left behind three days ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/meradinis-turtle-island-it-was-a-little-corner-of-chaos-this-was-the/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Accursed be he who plays with the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/accursed-be-he-who-plays-with-the-devil/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“Accursed! Accursed! You shall be accursed to the thirteenth generation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/accursed-accursed-you-shall-be-accursed-to-the-thirteenth-generation/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [The accursed hunger for gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/the-accursed-hunger-for-gold/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“The ears of our generation have been made so delicate by the senseless multitude of flatterers that, as soon as we perceive that anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-ears-of-our-generation-have-been-made-so-delicate-by-the-2/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Accursed who brings to light of day the writings I have cast away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/accursed-who-brings-to-light-of-day-the-writings-i-have-cast-away/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“Well, this is a story about books.” “About books?” “About accursed books, about the man who wrote them, about a character who broke out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/well-this-is-a-story-about-books-about-books-about-accursed-books-2/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) [Browse all 11 Accursed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accursed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thing-is-not-always-what-least/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accursed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thing-is-not-always-what-least/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/herman-melville-162_accursed_what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thi_705050.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.” — 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": "“What is best let alone, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thing-is-not-always-what-least/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/what-is-best-let-alone-that-accursed-thing-is-not-always-what-least/#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 } } ] } ```