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

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

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

To be hated cordially, is only a left-handed compliment.

To be hated cordially, is only a left-handed compliment.

Truth is in things, and not in words.

Truth is in things, and not in words.

Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence...

Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence...

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...

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...

At sea a fellow comes out. Salt water is like wine, in that respect.

At sea a fellow comes out. Salt water is like wine, in that respect.

Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses, - for it is...

Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses, - for it is...

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,...

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.

Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the...

Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the...

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

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

There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being...

There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being...

Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she...

Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she...

God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he...

God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he...

There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method.

There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method.

A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.

A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.

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

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

There is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings...

There is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings...

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...