The Past is the textbook of tyrants; the Future the Bible of the Free. Those who are solely governed by the Past stand like Lot’s wife, crystallized in the act of looking backward, and forever incapable of looking before.
HERMAN MELVILLE
HERMAN MELVILLE
Herman Melville on forever
Herman Melville95 quotes“The Past is the textbook of tyrants; the Future the Bible of the Free. Those who are solely governed by the Past stand like Lot’s wife, crystallized in the act of looking backward, and forever incapable of looking before.”
More from Herman Melville
It is hard to be finite upon an infinite subject, and all subjects are infinite.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville When the passage “All men are born free and equal,” when that passage was being written were not some of the signers legalised owners of slaves?
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville When among wild beasts, if they menace you, be a wild beast.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Only the man who says no is free
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville They talk of the dignity of work. The dignity is in leisure.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Truth is in things, and not in words.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has, is just after he awakes in the morning.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville The most mighty of nature’s laws is this, that out of Death she brings Life.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville All deep, earnest thinking is but the intrepid effort of the soul to keep the open independence of her sea, while the wildest winds of heaven and earth conspire to cast her on the treacherous, slavish shore.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Ladies are like creeds; if you cannot speak well of them, say nothing.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Better be an old maid, a woman with herself as a husband, than the wife of a fool; and Solomon more than hints that all men are fools; and every wise man knows himself to be one.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Honor lies in the mane of a horse.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville The poor man wants many things; the covetous man, all.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville There is nothing so slipperily alluring as sadness; we become sad in the first place by having nothing stirring to do; we continue in it, because we have found a snug sofa at last.
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Yet habit – strange thing! what cannot habit accomplish?
Herman MelvilleHerman Melville
Original quotes
From our community writers
Love is mostly easy at night, it is morning you got to learn about.
Leon MarshLeon Marsh You can find beauty in the darkest of places. Be the light, my love. Bring smiles to their faces.
Aletheia LiolaAletheia Liola This fearless heart is trapped between these anxious walls of my worried mind.
CindyCindy Don’t push away your emotions too hard, remember they can push back if held for too long.
SargamSargam To choose a plain life, I choose neither to lose and nor do I gain, If happiness is not in my destiny, I refuse to accept pain.
Astha SrivastavaAstha Srivastava Steal back your heart – self-love.
Mona-LiseMona-Lise Hope is the only thing that keeps us alive. Without hope there can be no you or I.
BelaBela An open mind opens our hearts to have compassion for others.
Elaine HaysElaine Hays
More on forever
You are more than just come overs to bend over, constant forgiveness, and second chances. You are not just a good time. You are more than being enough when it only suits them. Because you are more than just to be loved temporarily. When there are others who look at you as forever.
Jenny AJenny A We were supposed to be, even if we can’t be.
Lacie SheaLacie Shea Slowly but surely forever is becoming my favorite lie.
Jamil ElhageJamil Elhage I say five more minutes but what I really mean is never leave me.
Amanda KarchAmanda Karch You drifted away and I stood there wondering, would the sea ever return you back to me, or was our love lost forever.
Ashley PrzywolskiAshley Przywolski Because it’s you. It is always been and always will be.
Norah RoseNorah Rose It’s unconditional; their chemistry is unconditional – forever.
Ophelia ScarlettOphelia Scarlett You don’t have to stay forever but come love me now.
Karla GaleanaKarla Galeana