To insure the greatest efficiency in the dart, the harpooners of this world must start to their feet from out of idleness, and not from out of toil.
("Moby-Dick")
More Quotes from Herman Melville:
I am past scorching; not easily can'st thou scorch a scar.Herman Melville
I leave a white and turbid wake; pale waters, paler cheeks, where'er I sail. The envious billows sidelong swell to whelm my track; let them; but first I pass.
Herman Melville
He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great.
Herman Melville
Know, thou, that the lines that live are turned out of a furrowed brow.
Herman Melville
Seldom have I known any profound being that had anything to say to this world, unless forced to stammer out something by way of getting a living. Oh! happy that the world is such an excellent listener!
Herman Melville
Look you, Doubloon, your zodiac here is the life of man in one round chapter. To begin there's Aries, or the Ram -- lecherous dog, he begets us then, Taurus, or the Bull -- he bumps us the first thing then Gemini, or the Twins -- that is, Virtue and Vice we try to reach Virtue, when lo comes Cancer the Crab, and drags us back and here, going from Virtue, Leo, a roaring Lion, lies in the path -- he gives a few fierce bites and surly dabs with his paw we escape, and hail Virgo, the virgin that's our first love we marry and think to be happy for aye, when pop comes Libra, or the Scales -- happiness weighed and found wanting and while we are very sad about that, Lord how we suddenly jump, as Scorpio, or the Scorpion, stings us in rear we are curing the wound, when come the arrows all round Sagittarius, or the Archer, is amusing himself. As we pluck out the shafts, stand aside here's the battering-ram, Capricornus, or the Goat full tilt, he comes rushing, and headlong we are tossed when Aquarius, or the Waterbearer, pours out his whole deluge and drowns us and, to wind up, with Pisces, or the Fishes, we sleep.
Herman Melville
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