There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them. Herman Melville More Quotes by Herman Melville More Quotes From Herman Melville The profound calm which only apparently precedes and prophesies of the storm, is perhaps more awful than the storm itself; for indeed, the calm is but the wrapper and envelop of the storm, and contains it in itself, as the seemingly harmless rifle holds the fatal powder, and the ball, and the explosion. Herman Melville stormriflesprofound Until we understand that our grief outweighs a thousand joys, we will never understand what Christianity is all about. Herman Melville griefsufferingjoy Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea? Why upon your first voyage as a passenger, did you yourself feel such a mystical vibration, when first told that you and your ship were now out of sight of land? Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother of Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning. Herman Melville crazybrotherboys Failure is the test of greatness. Herman Melville greatnesstests A man can be honest in any sort of skin. Herman Melville honestskinsmen Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing Herman Melville felinecunningmadness The Anglo-Saxon hive have extirpated Paganism from the greater part of the North American continent; but with it they have likewise extirpated the greater portion of the Red race. Civilization is gradually sweeping from the earth the lingering vestiges of Paganism, and at the same time the shrinking forms of its unhappy worshippers. Herman Melville unhappyracecivilization Out of the trunk, the branches grow; out of them, the twigs. So, in productive subjects, grow the chapters. Herman Melville chapterstwigsbranches True places are not found on maps. Herman Melville mapsfound In what rapt ether sails the world, of which the weariest will never weary? Herman Melville wearysailworld Where lies the final harbor, whence we unmoor no more? Herman Melville harborsfinalslying The earliest instinct of the child, and the ripest experience of age, unite in affirming simplicity to be the truest and profoundest part for man. Likewise this simplicity is so universal and all-containing as a rule for human life, that the subtlest bad man, and the purest good man, as well as the profoundest wise man, do all alike present it on that side which they socially turn to the inquisitive and unscrupulous world. Herman Melville wisemenchildren The so-called Transcendentalists are not the only people who deal in Transcendentals. On the contrary, we seem to see that the Utilitarians,--the every-day world's people themselves, far transcend those inferior Transcendentalists by their own incomprehensible worldly maxims. Herman Melville transcendentalismpeopleworld Whatever has made, or does make, or may make music, should be held sacred as the golden bridle-bit of the Shah of Persia's horse,and the golden hammer, with which his hoofs are shod. Herman Melville goldenhorsemusical An indiscriminate distrust of human nature is the worst consequence of a miserable condition, whether brought about by innocence or guilt. And though want of suspicion more than want of sense, sometimes leads a man into harm; yet too much suspicion is as bad as too little sense. Herman Melville too-muchguiltmen Great towers take time to construct. Herman Melville persistencetowerspatience If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh. Herman Melville pessimismmaylaughing Whenever we discover a dislike in us, toward any one, we should ever be a little suspicious of ourselves. Herman Melville suspiciousshouldlittles A hermitage in the forest is the refuge of the narrow-minded misanthrope; a hammock on the ocean is the asylum for the generous distressed. Herman Melville generosityoceanforests Let us waive that agitated national topic, as to whether such multitudes of foreign poor should be landed on our American shores;let us waive it, with the one only thought, that if they can get here, they have God's right to come. Herman Melville topicspoorshould
