Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melvillewas an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period best known for Typee, a romantic account of his experiences in Polynesian life, and his whaling novel Moby-Dick. His work was almost forgotten during his last thirty years. His writing draws on his experience at sea as a common sailor, exploration of literature and philosophy, and engagement in the contradictions of American society in a period of rapid change. He developed a complex, baroque style:...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth1 August 1819
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
In armies, navies, cities, or families, in nature herself, nothing more relaxes good order than misery.
Many sensible things banished from high life find an asylum among the mob.
Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease.
Leviathan is not the biggest fish; — I have heard of Krakens.
Not one man in five cycles, who is wise, will expect appreciative recognition from his fellows, or any one of them.
Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, though a foe to all.
Thus it often is, that the constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves of the more generous.
Struck dead by an angel of God! Yet the angel must hang!
The drama's done. Why then here does any one step forth? — Because one did survive the wreck.
In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
The starred and stately nights seemed haughty dames in jewelled velvets, nursing at home in lonely pride, the memory of their absent conquering Earls, the golden helmeted suns!
He, who, in view of its inconsistencies, says of human nature the same that, in view of its contrasts, is said of the divine nature, that it is past finding out, thereby evinces a better appreciation of it than he who, by always representing it in a clear light, leaves it to be inferred that he clearly knows all about it.
To be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another.
There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order to preserve the laws inviolate for the future.