To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be that have tried it.

Quote by Herman Melville

Topics: Books Quotes, Writing Quotes

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...

Art is the objectification of feeling.

Art is the objectification of feeling.

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...

Do not presume, well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed, to criticize the poor

Do not presume, well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed, to criticize the poor

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...

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.

Truth is the silliest thing under the sun. Try to get a living by the...

Truth is the silliest thing under the sun. Try to get a living by the...

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 nothing namable but that some men will, or undertake to, do it for...

There is nothing namable but that some men will, or undertake to, do it for...

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

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

To be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another.

To be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another.

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

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

A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.

A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.

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

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

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...

There is no dignity in wickedness, whether in purple or rags; and hell is a...

There is no dignity in wickedness, whether in purple or rags; and hell is a...

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...

A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time -...

A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time -...

If you don't do it excellently, don't do it at all. Because if it's not...

If you don't do it excellently, don't do it at all. Because if it's not...

Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of...

Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of...