Words of Wisdom: Herman Melville

By Students' Academy

The short stories and novels written by Herman Melville have kept readers amused for several decades. He was a well travelled person, so consequently a keen observer of human behavior.

His works have been popular in all age groups of readers. The most unique feature of his writing is his command over language and precise selection of words.

Several of his statements, remarks, and lines from his works are really memorable, and they are often quoted by writers and scholars. There are hundreds of such intelligent thoughts given in the present book to entertain and enlighten the prospective readers.

Words of Wisdom: Herman Melville
Copyright
Introduction
Section One
Section Two
Section Three
Section Four
Section Five
Section Six
Section Seven
Section Eight
Section Nine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311772800

Students' Academy

Easy study guides for the students of English literature.

Book preview

Words of Wisdom: Herman Melville

Copyright

Words of Wisdom: Herman Melville

Students' Academy

Copyright@2014 Students' Academy

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

Introduction

Herman Melville's short stories have entertained and enlightened readers for more than a century. Being a vastly travelled writer, he had enough experience of observing people from different parts of the world. He was a very keen observer of human nature.

Some of his lines and remarks from his works have become highly popular quotes today. Various writers and scholars use his lines in their works and speeches.

In the present book, we have included hundreds of his intelligent lines from his famous works. They are sure to amuse and enlighten you.

Section One

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

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities.

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.

I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.

Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunk Christian.

It is not down on any map; true places never are.

There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own.

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.

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.

I try all things, I achieve what I can.

Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me.

Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the orange tint begins? Distinctly we see the difference of the colors, but where exactly does the one first blendingly enter into the other? So with sanity and insanity.

"A

Reviews for Words of Wisdom

[Бирач Дамир · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great book...The greatest writer!!!