The terrors of truth and dart of death To faith alike are vain. Herman Melville More Quotes by Herman Melville More Quotes From Herman Melville Ladies are like creeds; if you cannot speak well of them, say nothing. Herman Melville womenspeakreligion Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight, is said to be the only truth. Herman Melville sightlovefriendship You know nothing till you know all; which is the reason we never know any thing. Herman Melville reasonknowsknowledge for there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men Herman Melville madnessearthmen To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. Herman Melville fleaswritingbook Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning. And still deeper the meaning of that story of Narcissus, who because he could not grasp the tormenting mild image he saw in the fountain, plunged into it and was drowned. But that same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all. Herman Melville oceankeysbrother Hope is the struggle of the soul, breaking loose from what is perishable, and attesting her eternity. Herman Melville soulstrugglehope I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing. Herman Melville laughteradventurelaughing Nature is nobody's ally. Herman Melville alliesnature Better be an old maid, a woman with herself as a husband, than the wife of a fool; and Solomon more than hints that all men are fools; and every wise man knows himself to be one. Herman Melville husbandwisemen If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least. Herman Melville dinnerifsworld As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts. Herman Melville inspirationallifetravel There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself. Herman Melville qualityrealityworld Yet habit - strange thing! what cannot habit accomplish? Herman Melville advocatingstrangehabit 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. Herman Melville menbelievethinking We are only what we are; not what we would be; nor every thing we hope for. We are but a step in a scale, that reaches further above us than below. Herman Melville humanityperfectionwould-be There is a savor of life and immortality in substantial fare. Like balloons, we are nothing till filled. Herman Melville balloonsimmortalityeating Silence is the only Voice of our God. Herman Melville voicesilencechange The Past is the textbook of tyrants; the Future the Bible of the Free. Those who are solely governed by the Past stand like Lot's wife, crystallized in the act of looking backward, and forever incapable of looking before. Herman Melville tyrantswifepast Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents' beds, unerringly I rush! Naught's an obstacle, naught's an angle to the iron way! Herman Melville ironheartrunning
