Quotes

But oh! shipmates! on the starboard hand of every woe, there is a sure delight; and higher the top of that delight, than the bottom of the woe is deep.

Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately steppint into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.

Old age is always wakeful; as if, the longer linked with life, the less man has to do with aught that looks like death.

Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease.

All things that God would have us do are hard for us to do--remember that--and hence, he oftener commands us than endeavours to persuade.

I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don't believe it also. But when a man's religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him.

In this world, shipmates, sin that pays its way can travel freely, and without a passport; whereas Virtue, if a pauper, is stopped at all frontiers.

Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope.

Immortality is but ubiquity in time.

Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into still subtler form.

A laugh's the wisest, easiest answer to all that's queer.

Meditation and water are wedded for ever.

Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.

All we discover has been with us since the sun began to roll; and much we discover, is not worth the discovering.

Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, though a foe to all.

War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.

Never joke at funerals, or during business transactions.

Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.

The road up and the road down is one and the same. 

What are men? Mortal gods. What are gods? Immortal men.