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Herman Melville

Herman Melville Quotes

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Famous Herman Melville Quotes

“In this world of lies, Truth is forced to fly like a scared white doe in the woodlands; and only by cunning glimpses will she reveal herself, as in Shakespeare and other masters of the great Art of Telling the Truth, even though it be covertly, and by snatches.”

WorldDoeArtLyingWhiteThis WorldMastersTruth IsScaredTelling The TruthGlimpseGreat ArtCunningWoodlandLies Truth
Book:Moby Dick, Or The Whale: Volume 6, Scholarly Edition
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“The ancients of the ideal description, instead of trying to turn their impracticable chimeras, as does the modern dreamer, into social and political prodigies, deposited them in great works of art, which still live while states and constitutions have perished, bequeathing to posterity not shameful defects but triumphant successes.”

TryingDoeArtStillsStatesPoliticalArtistTurnsSocialModernIdealsConstitutionReformDescriptionWorks Of ArtDreamerIdealismDefectsGreat WorkPosterityShamefulTriumphantProdigiesChimera
Book:Piazza Tales and Other Prose Pieces, 1839-1860: Volume Nine, Scholarly Edition
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“Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she has not even her full share of them. They flourish in greater abundance and attain greater strength among many barbarous people. The hospitality of the wild Arab, the courage of the North American Indian, and the faithful friendships of some of the Polynesian nations, far surpass any thing of a similar kind among the polished communities of Europe.”

PeopleKindDoeHumanityNationsCommunityVirtueGreaterShareCivilizationEuropeIndianFaithfulAbundanceHospitalityPolishedAmerican IndianPolynesians
Book:Typee: A Romance of the South Seas (Illustrated & Annotated Edition)
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“Is Ahab, Ahab? Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm? But if the great sun move not of himself; but is an errand-boy in heaven; nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power; how then can this one small heart beat; this one small brain think thoughts; unless God does that beating, does that thinking, does that living, and not I.”

IfsThinkingHeartDoeMovingHeavenStarsBrainBoysPowerSunArmsBeatsInvisibleLiftsHeart BeatErrandsAhab
Book:Moby Dick (World Classics, Unabridged)
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“I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don't believe it also. But when a man's religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him.”

ThinkingMenBelieveMayPersonsLongDoeEarthIndividualFineDon't BelieveArguingUncomfortableInsultTormentObjectionsFranticInnsLodges
Author:Herman Melville
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“It does seem to me, that herein we see the rare virtue of a strong individual vitality, and the rare virtue of thick walls, and the rare virtue of interior spaciousness. Oh, man! admire and model thyself after the whale! Do thou, too, remain warm among ice. Do thou, too, live in this world without being of it. Be cool at the equator; keep thy blood fluid at the Pole. Like the great dome of St. Peter's, and like the great whale, retain, O man! in all seasons a temperature of thine own.”

MenWorldDoeSeemsIndividualStrongVirtueBloodThis WorldWallModelsSeasonsWarmAdmireIcePeterThickInteriorsVitalityThyselfTemperatureFluidWhalesBeing CoolDomesEquatorSpaciousnessSt PeterStrong Individuals
Book:Moby Dick
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