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

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.

We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads,...

We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads,...

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...

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

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

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

It is not down in any map; true places never are.

It is not down in any map; true places never are.

In this world, shipmates, sin that pays its way can travel freely, and without passport;...

In this world, shipmates, sin that pays its way can travel freely, and without passport;...

Death is only a launching into the region of the strange Untried; it is but...

Death is only a launching into the region of the strange Untried; it is but...

Old age is always wakeful; as if, the longer linked with life, the less man...

Old age is always wakeful; as if, the longer linked with life, the less man...

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...

Where do murderers go, man! Who's to doom, when the judge himself is dragged to...

Where do murderers go, man! Who's to doom, when the judge himself is dragged to...

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...

A man thinks that by mouthing hard words he understands hard things.

A man thinks that by mouthing hard words he understands hard things.

There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order...

There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order...

I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll...

I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll...

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...

So philosophers so throughly comprehend us as horses.

So philosophers so throughly comprehend us as horses.

There is sorrow in the world, but goodness too; and goodness that is not greenness,...

There is sorrow in the world, but goodness too; and goodness that is not greenness,...

There is all of the difference in the world between paying and being paid.

There is all of the difference in the world between paying and being paid.

There are hardly five critics in America; and several of them are asleep.

There are hardly five critics in America; and several of them are asleep.