All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever present perils of life.

Quote by Herman Melville

Topics: Death Quotes

A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.

A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.

It is impossible to talk or to write without apparently throwing oneself helplessly open.

It is impossible to talk or to write without apparently throwing oneself helplessly open.

We may have civilized bodies and yet barbarous souls. We are blind to the real...

We may have civilized bodies and yet barbarous souls. We are blind to the real...

Art is the objectification of feeling.

Art is the objectification of feeling.

There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life...

There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life...

Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.

Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.

For whatever is truly wondrous and fearful in man, never yet was put into words...

For whatever is truly wondrous and fearful in man, never yet was put into words...

To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; For...

To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; For...

There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a...

There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a...

There is something wrong about the man who wants help. There is somewhere a deep...

There is something wrong about the man who wants help. There is somewhere a deep...

He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and...

He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and...

Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges.

Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges.

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.

Some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us...

Some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us...

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men;...

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men;...

Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief that's...

Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief that's...

Whatever fortune brings, don't be afraid of doing things.

Whatever fortune brings, don't be afraid of doing things.

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

They talk of the dignity of work. The dignity is in leisure.

They talk of the dignity of work. The dignity is in leisure.

I am, as I am; whether hideous, or handsome, depends upon who is made judge.

I am, as I am; whether hideous, or handsome, depends upon who is made judge.