Herman Melville
It is-or seems to be-a wise sort of thing, to realise that all that happens to a man in this life is only by way of joke, especially his misfortunes, if he have them. And it is also worth bearing in mind, that the joke is passed round pretty liberally & impartially, so that not very many are entitled to fancy that they in particular are getting the worst of it.Collection: Wise
The western spirit is, or will yet be (for no other is, or can be) the true American one.Collection: America
Nothing may help or heal While Amor incensed remembers wrong.Collection: Amor
Man, in the ideal, is so noble and so sparkling, such a grand and glowing creature, that over any ignominious blemish in him all his fellows should run to throw their costliest robes.Collection: Running
Cannibalism to a certain moderate extent is practised among several of the primitive tribes in the Pacific, but it is upon the bodies of slain enemies alone; and horrible and fearful as the custom is, immeasurably as it is to be abhorred and condemned, still I assert that those who indulge in it are in other respects humane and virtuous.Collection: Indulge In
Our institutions have a potent digestion, and may in time convert and assimilate to good all elements thrown in, however originally alien.Collection: Elements
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.Collection: Wise
The grand principles of virtue and honor, however they may be distorted by arbitrary codes, are the same the world over: and wherethese principles are concerned, the right or wrong of any action appears the same to the uncultivated as to the enlightened mind.Collection: Honor
The American, who up to the present day, has evinced, in Literature, the largest brain with the largest heart, that man is Nathaniel Hawthorne.Collection: Heart
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.Collection: Horse
The result of civilization, at the Sandwich Islands and elsewhere, is found productive to the civilizers, destructive to the civilizees. It is said to be compensation--a very philosophical word; but it appears to be very much on the principle of the old game, "You lose, I win": good philosophy for the winner.Collection: Philosophy
Twelve o'clock! It is the natural centre, key-stone, and very heart of the day. At that hour, the sun has arrived at the top of his hill; and as he seems to hang poised there a while, before coming down on the other side, it is but reasonable to suppose that he is then stopping to dine; setting an eminent example to all mankind.Collection: Heart
There was about all the Romans a heroic tone peculiar to ancient life. Their virtues were great and noble, and these virtues madethem great and noble. They possessed a natural majesty that was not put on and taken off at pleasure, as was that of certain eastern monarchs when they put on or took off their garments of Tyrian dye. It is hoped that this is not wholly lost from the world, although the sense of earthly vanity inculcated by Christianity may have swallowed it up in humility.Collection: Taken
There seems no reason why patriotism and narrowness should go together, or why intellectual impartiality should be confounded with political trimming, or why serviceable truth should keep cloistered be a cause not partisan.Collection: Political
The only ugliness is that of the heart, seen through the face. And though beauty be obvious, the only loveliness is invisible.Collection: Beauty
Boy, take my advice, and never try to invent any thing but--happiness.Collection: Happiness
...The silent reminiscence of hardships departed, is sweeter than the presence of delight.Collection: Gratitude
Failure is the true test of greatnessCollection: Greatness
If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least.Collection: World
Nature is nobody's ally.Collection: Nature
I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas.Collection: Sea
Man is a money-making animal, which propensity too often interferes with his benevolence.Collection: Money
True Work is the necessity of poor humanity's earthly condition. The dignity is in leisure. Besides, 99 hundredths of all the work done in the world is either foolish and unnecessary, or harmful and wicked.Collection: Work
True places are not found on maps.Collection: Maps
Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the orange tint begins? Distinctly we see the difference of the colors, but where exactly does the one first blendingly enter into the other? So with sanity and insanity.Collection: Health
Meditation and water are wedded for ever.Collection: Water
Poor people make a very poor business of it when they try to seem rich.Collection: People
Many sensible things banished from high life find an asylum among the mob.Collection: Asylums
To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.Collection: Book
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.Collection: Believe
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.Collection: Men
Thou hast evoked in me profounder spells than the evoking one, thou face! For me, thou hast uncovered one infinite, dumb, beseeching countenance of mystery, underlying all the surfaces of visible time and space.Collection: Space
If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.Collection: Laughing
All Profound things, and emotions of things are preceded and attended by Silence... Silence is the general consecration of the universe. Silence is the invisible laying on of the Divine Pontiff's hands upon the world. Silence is at once the most harmless and the most awful thing in all nature. It speaks of the Reserved Forces of Fate. Silence is the only Voice of our God.Collection: Fate
The most mighty of nature's laws is this, that out of Death she brings Life.Collection: Nature
Silence is the only Voice of our God.Collection: Change
Youth is the time when hearts are large.Collection: Heart
The Past is the textbook of tyrants; the Future is the Bible of the Free.Collection: Past
I am a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best.Collection: Men
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.Collection: Art
Whatever my fate, I'll go to it laughing.Collection: Fate
When among wild beasts, if they menace you, be a wild beast.Collection: Beast
I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.Collection: Travel
A thing may be incredible and still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it is true.Collection: Truth
Stay true to the dreams of thy youth.Collection: Dream
It is hard to be finite upon an infinite subject, and all subjects are infinite.Collection: Wisdom
As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.Collection: Inspirational
Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.Collection: Inspirational
The poor man wants many things; the covetous man, all.Collection: Men