The sea - this truth must be confessed - has no generosity. No display of manly qualities - courage, hardihood, endurance, faithfulness - has ever been known to touch its irresponsible consciousness of power.

Quote by Joseph Conrad

Topics: Joseph Conrad Quotes

To have his path made clear for him is the aspiration of every human being...

To have his path made clear for him is the aspiration of every human being...

It is respectable to have illusions - and safe - and profitable, and dull

It is respectable to have illusions - and safe - and profitable, and dull

For all that has been said of the love that certain natures (on shore) have...

For all that has been said of the love that certain natures (on shore) have...

There are men here and there to whom the whole of life is like an...

There are men here and there to whom the whole of life is like an...

All a man can betray is his conscience

All a man can betray is his conscience

The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite...

The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite...

Being a woman is a terribly task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.

Being a woman is a terribly task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.

A modern fleet of ships does not so much make use of the sea as...

A modern fleet of ships does not so much make use of the sea as...

All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of...

All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of...

Action is consolatory. It is the enemy of thought and the friend of flattering illusions.

Action is consolatory. It is the enemy of thought and the friend of flattering illusions.

As in political so in literary action a man wins friends for himself mostly by...

As in political so in literary action a man wins friends for himself mostly by...

It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a...

It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a...

Don't you forget what's divine in the Russian soul and that's resignation.

Don't you forget what's divine in the Russian soul and that's resignation.

An artist is a man of action, whether he creates a personality, invents an expedient,...

An artist is a man of action, whether he creates a personality, invents an expedient,...

It is respectable to have no illusions, and safe, and profitable and dull.

It is respectable to have no illusions, and safe, and profitable and dull.

This magnificent butterfly finds a little heap of dirt and sits still on it; but...

This magnificent butterfly finds a little heap of dirt and sits still on it; but...

Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its...

Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its...

As to honor - you know - it's a very fine mediaeval inheritance which women...

As to honor - you know - it's a very fine mediaeval inheritance which women...

Criticism, that fine flower of personal expression in the garden of letters.

Criticism, that fine flower of personal expression in the garden of letters.

Words, as is well known, are the great foes of reality.

Words, as is well known, are the great foes of reality.