You know nothing till you know all; which is the reason we never know any thing. Herman Melville More Quotes by Herman Melville More Quotes From Herman Melville Nature has not implanted any power in man that was not meant to be exercised at times, though too often our powers have been abused. The privilege, inborn and inalienable, that every man has of dying himself, and inflicting death upon another, was not given to us without a purpose. These are the last resources of an insulted and unendurable existence. Herman Melville lastsdyingmen They talk of the dignity of work. The dignity is in leisure. Herman Melville worksuccesslife The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails whereon my soul is grooved to run Herman Melville ironsoulrunning I try all things, I achieve what I can. Herman Melville achieveall-thingstrying But the past is passed; why moralize upon it? Forget it. See, yon bright son has forgotten it all, and the blue sea, and the blue sky; these have turned over new leaves. Because they have no memory . . . because they are not human. Herman Melville memoriespastson Whatever my fate, I'll go to it laughing. Herman Melville fatelaughing Do not presume, well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed, to criticize the poor Herman Melville fedscriticizepoor All experience teaches that, whenever there is a great national establishment, employing large numbers of officials, the public must be reconciled to support many incompetent men; for such is the favoritism and nepotism always prevailing in the purlieus of these establishments, that some incompetent persons are always admitted, to the exclusion of many of the worthy. Herman Melville supportnumbersmen truly to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself. If you flatter yourself that you are all over comfortable, and have been so a long time, then you cannot be said to be comfortable any more. Herman Melville qualitylongworld How it is I know not; but there is no place like a bed for confidential disclosures between friends. Man and wife, they say, there open the very bottom of their souls to each other; and some old couples often lie and chat over old times till nearly morning. Thus, then, in our hearts' honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg - a cosy, loving pair. Herman Melville couplemorninglying To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be that have tried it. Herman Melville literaturewritingbook 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. Herman Melville wallstrongmen To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee. Herman Melville life-and-lovehateheart When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. Herman Melville oceanheartbeauty Genius, all over the world, stands hand in hand, and one shock of recognition runs the whole circle round. Herman Melville circlesrunninghands Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me. Herman Melville atheismdoubtmen For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draught—nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience! Herman Melville cashmaybook 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. Herman Melville starsheartmoving There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a horse, that should forever exempt him from indignities. Herman Melville horsespecialforever Thinking is, or ought to be, a coolness and a calmness; and our poor hearts throb, and our poor brains beat too much for that. Herman Melville brainheartthinking
