With no power to annul the elemental evil in him, though readily enough he could hide it apprehending the good, but powerless to be it a nature like Claggart's surcharged with energy as such natures almost invariably are, what recourse is left to it but to recoil upon itself and like the scorpion for which the Creator alone is responsible, act out to the end the part allotted it.
More Quotes from Herman Melville:
There are hardly five critics in America; and several of them are asleep.Herman Melville
There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order to preserve the laws inviolate for the future.
Herman Melville
I rejoice in my spine, as in the firm audacious staff of that flag which I fling half out to the world.
Herman Melville
Out of natural courtesy he received, but did not appropriate. It was like a gift placed in the palm of an outreached hand upon which the fingers do not close.
Herman Melville
There seems no reason why patriotism and narrowness should go together, or why intellectual fairmindedness should be confounded with political trimming, or why serviceable truth should keep cloistered because not partisan
Herman Melville
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 stepping 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.
Herman Melville
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Based on Topics: Duty Quotes, Nature QuotesBased on Keywords: annul, apprehending, scorpion, surcharged
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