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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

Aid my disillusionment, my friend!
HERMAN MELVILLE

Friendship Help Illusion One Liner
There’s magic in the water that draws all men away form the land, that leads them over hills, down creeks and streams and rivers to the sea.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Down Draw Land Magic Men Sea Stream Water
For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of the half known life.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Horror Life Ocean Surround
The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails whereon my soul is grooved to run
HERMAN MELVILLE

Myself Path Purpose Run Soul
Nature is nobody’s ally.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Friendship Nature One Liner
I’ll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Friendship Hallow Myself Religion Shallow
I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Come Known Laughter Myself Willing
If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Better Food World Yourself
Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses, – for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it – not in a set way and ostentatiously, though, but incidentally and without premeditation.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Mistake Set Sign Strength Talk Way Weakness
Heaven have mercy on us all – Presbyterians and Pagans alike – for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Heaven Mercy Need Repair Sadness
The poor man wants many things; the covetous man, all.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Man Material Poor
Failure is the test of greatness.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Failure Greatness One Liner
We are only what we are; not what we would be; nor every thing we hope for. We are but a step in a scale, that reaches further above us than below.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Below Further Future Hope Past Present Reach Scale
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 MELVILLE

Deep Earth Effort Ground Herself Mindset Thinking
It is hard to be finite upon an infinite subject, and all subjects are infinite.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Hard Knowledge Limitation Subject
One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has, is just after he awakes in the morning.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Awake Cool Man Morning One Liner Wisdom

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Herman Melville Quotes