WIST Quotations

Melville, Herman -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

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

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
(Attributed)

Melville, Herman -- Moby-Dick, ch. 133 [Ahab] (1851)

Dave — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:06:19 +0000

If the gods think to speak outright to man, they will honorably speak outright; not shake their heads, and give an old wives’ darkling hint.

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
Moby-Dick, ch. 133 [Ahab] (1851)

Melville, Herman -- Moby-Dick, ch. 1 [Ishmael] (1851)

Dave — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:04:55 +0000

Being paid — what will compare with it? The urbane activity with which a man receives money is really marvelous, considering that we so earnestly believe money to be the root of all earthly ills, and on no account can a monied man enter heaven. Ah! how cheerfully we consign ourself to perdition!

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
Moby-Dick, ch. 1 [Ishmael] (1851)

Melville, Herman -- The Encantadas, Sketch 8 (1854)

Dave — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:50:18 +0000

One knows not whether nature doth not impose some secrecy upon him who has been privy to certain things. At least, it is to be doubted whether it be good to blazon such. If some books are deemed most baneful and their sale forbid, how, then, with deadlier facts, not dreams of doting men? Those whom books will hurt will not be proof against events. Events, not books, should be forbid.

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
The Encantadas, Sketch 8 (1854)
(Source)

Melville, Herman -- White-Jacket (1850)

Dave — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:10:46 +0000

Whoever afflict us, whatever surround,
Life is a voyage that’s homeward-bound!

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
White-Jacket (1850)

Melville, Herman -- Letter to his cousin, Kate Gansevoort Lansing (5 Sep 1877)

Dave — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:29:44 +0000

Whoever is not in the possession of leisure can hardly be said to possess independence. They talk of the dignity of work. Bosh. True work is the necessity of poor humanity’s earthly condition. The dignity is in leisure.

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
Letter to his cousin, Kate Gansevoort Lansing (5 Sep 1877)

Full text.

Melville, Herman -- Letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne (29 Jun 1851)

Dave — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:52:19 +0000

Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses — for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it — not in a set way and ostentatiously, but incidentally and without premeditation.

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
Letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne (29 Jun 1851)

Melville, Herman -- Story (1854-06), “Poor Man’s Pudding and Rich Man’s Crumbs,” “Picture First,” Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 9

Dave — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:08:38 +0000

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer
Story (1854-06), “Poor Man’s Pudding and Rich Man’s Crumbs,” “Picture First,” Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 9
(Source)

(Alternate Source)

See also Shaw.