There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order to preserve the laws inviolate for the future.

Quote by Herman Melville

Topics: Herman Melville Quotes

He pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth...

He pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth...

All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but...

All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but...

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...

Know, thou, that the lines that live are turned out of a furrowed brow.

Know, thou, that the lines that live are turned out of a furrowed brow.

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

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

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;...

Is there some principal of nature which states that we never know the quality of...

Is there some principal of nature which states that we never know the quality of...

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...

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.

The march of conquest through wild provinces, may be the march of Mind; but not...

The march of conquest through wild provinces, may be the march of Mind; but not...

Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges.

Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges.

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.

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...

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;...

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,...

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...

Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight is said to be the only...

Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight is said to be the only...

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing...

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing...

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go...

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go...

Then you should have died! Died, rather than betray your friends, as we would have...

Then you should have died! Died, rather than betray your friends, as we would have...

The truth is that there is no terror untempered by some great moral idea.

The truth is that there is no terror untempered by some great moral idea.