--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever I find myself growing grim about…" description: "\"“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/040/herman-melville-162_integrity_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2100680.jpg" --- # Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth… ![“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/040/herman-melville-162_integrity_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2100680.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/040/herman-melville-162_integrity_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2100680.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/040/herman-melville-162_integrity_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2100680.jpg) > ““Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.”” [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 narrator uses sea voyages as an antidote to melancholy and existential dread, preferring adventure over self‑destruction. **In simple terms:** Sea travel cures his gloom. Key Takeaway Seek adventure when despair looms. Themes melancholy adventure existentialism Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Depressive thoughts - creative blocks - personal crises - seeking purpose Key Concepts Coping mechanisms self‑medication philosophical escape Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to seek escape? - Can adventure replace professional help? A Different Perspective May not address underlying mental health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Upper hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upper-hand/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-about-the-mouth-whenever-it-is-a-3/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/whenever-it-is-a-damp-drizzly-november-in-my-soul-whenever-i-find/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-about-the-mouth-whenever-it-is-a/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/with-a-philosophical-flourish-cato-throws-himself-upon-his-sword/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/with-a-philosophical-flourish-cato-throws-himself-upon-his-sword-i-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/with-a-philosophical-flourish-cato-throws-himself-upon-his-sword-i/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/call-me-ishmael-some-years-ago-never-mind-how-long-precisely-having-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever i find myself involuntarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-about-the-mouth-whenever-it-is-a-4/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Call me Ishmael. 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Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/call-me-ishmael-some-years-ago-never-mind-how-long-precisely-having-3/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I'm a weirdo, but I have a very strong moral code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-sweatshirt/i-m-a-weirdo-but-i-have-a-very-strong-moral-code/) [Earl Sweatshirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-sweatshirt/) > [I think the personal satisfaction of doing good in the community and increasing value and holding true to the Hippocratic oath and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-ruiz/i-think-the-personal-satisfaction-of-doing-good-in-the-community-and/) [Raul Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-ruiz/) > [We need to elect leaders who have a strong moral compass. Leaders who are honest, straightforward, and tough - with a love of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/we-need-to-elect-leaders-who-have-a-strong-moral-compass-leaders-who/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [“We’ve always had strong moral responsibility, or we should have had, to other species,’ says Richard Twine, the British sociologist. ‘We just haven’t exercised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-anthes/we-ve-always-had-strong-moral-responsibility-or-we-should-have-had-to/) [Emily Anthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-anthes/) ## 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 Integrity quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [The Kennedys have always represented a certain royal quality, Camelot, and they represent a great deal of integrity and strength and perseverance; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-slater/the-kennedys-have-always-represented-a-certain-royal-quality-camelot/) [Christian Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-slater/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Too much principle is often more harmful than too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/too-much-principle-is-often-more-harmful-than-too-little/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. 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