Herman Melville Quotes

"Truth is like a thrashing-machine; tender sensibilities must keep out of the way." ~ The Confidence-Man by Herman Melville Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges. ~ Billy Budd by Herman Melville He lives, then, on ginger-nuts, thought I; never eats a dinner, properly speaking; he must be a vegetarian then; but no; he never eats even vegetables, he eats nothing but ginger-nuts. My mind then ran on in reveries concerning the probable effects upon the human constitution of living entirely on ginger-nuts. ~ Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville But thus it often is, that the constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves of the more generous. ~ Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville Up to a certain point the thought or sight of misery enlists our best affections; but, in certain special cases, beyond that point it does not. They err who would assert that invariably this is owing to the inherent selfishness of the human heart. It rather proceeds from a certain hopelessness of remedying excessive and organic ill. ~ Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville Ah, happiness courts the light, so we deem the world is gay; but misery hides aloof, so we deem that misery there is none. ~ Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance. ~ Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville "Man came into this world, not to sit down and muse, not to befog himself with vain subtleties, but to gird up his loins and to work." ~ The Confidence-Man by Herman Melville The sun comes out, a golden huzzar, from his tent, flashing his helm on the world. ~ The Confidence-Man by Herman Melville "Money, you think, is the sole motive to pains and hazard, deception and deviltry, in this world. How much money did the devil make by gulling Eve?" ~ The Confidence-Man by Herman Melville