Skip to content

Broken Quote by William Falconer

“A long sea implies an uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves; on the contrary, a short sea is when they run irregularly, broken, and interrupted; so as frequently to burst over a vessel's side or quarter.” quote by William Falconer
Download Open image
“A long sea implies an uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves; on the contrary, a short sea is when they run irregularly, broken, and interrupted; so as frequently to burst over a vessel's side or quarter.”

William Falconer

About This Quote

Source Poem: The Shipwreck, 1724

A long sea is steady and uniform, while a short sea is irregular, broken, and prone to sudden bursts against a vessel.

In simple terms: Long seas are smooth; short seas are chaotic and dangerous.

Key Takeaway

Prepare for sudden challenges in calm settings.

Themes

sea navigation storm vessel danger

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

metaphorical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • sailing
  • coastal travel
  • storm preparedness
  • maritime storytelling
  • learning from metaphor

Key Concepts

uniformity irregularity burst hazard maritime

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does a "short sea" symbolize in life?
  • How can we stay steady amid sudden disruptions?
A Different Perspective

Short seas can still be navigated with skill and caution.

4.9 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by William Falconer

Explore all 22 William Falconer quotes

More Broken quotes

Browse all 5,851 Broken quotes