--- 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 b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/herman-melville-162_accounts_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2391849.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/614/herman-melville-162_accounts_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2391849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/herman-melville-162_accounts_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2391849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/herman-melville-162_accounts_whenever-i-find-myself-growing-grim-abou_2391849.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.” [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. Despair and suicidal thoughts are described in vivid, dark imagery, yet the speaker urges himself to act and escape the gloom. **In simple terms:** Dark thoughts lead to a desire for escape. Key Takeaway Seek action to counter despair. Themes despair mental health self‑control dark humor literary Mood melancholy ironic defiant Type literary reflective advice When to use this quote - personal crisis - loneliness - seasonal depression - creative block Key Concepts existentialism psychology self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - What coping strategies help when feeling hopeless? - How can humor aid in confronting darkness? A Different Perspective The humor may trivialize serious mental health struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffins/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funeral/) [Hats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hats/) [Hats off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hats-off/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [November](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/november/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailor/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [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/) [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-2/) [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-4/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Call me Ishmael. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [I'm always on the lookout for projects with a strong moral and inspirational core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-mcdonough/i-m-always-on-the-lookout-for-projects-with-a-strong-moral-and/) [Neal McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-mcdonough/) > [To be a strong minded individual. 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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. 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