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There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.

Herman Melville

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
To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Book Produce Theme
All things that God would have us do are hard for us to do–remember that–and hence, he oftener commands us than endeavours to persuade.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Command Convince God Hard Persuade Remember
Hope is the struggle of the soul, breaking loose from what is perishable, and attesting her eternity.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Break Forever Hope Loose Perish Soul Struggle
Do not presume, well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed, to criticize the poor
HERMAN MELVILLE

Assumption Criticism Home Poor Warm
No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Animal Dog Help Ourselves Philosophy
Genius, all over the world, stands hand in hand, and one shock of recognition runs the whole circle round.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Circle Genius Hands Recognition Round Run Shock Stand World
A thing may be incredible and still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it is true.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Fact Incredible Reality True
Is there some principal of nature which states that we never know the quality of what we have until it is gone?
HERMAN MELVILLE

Lost Moments Nature Ourselves Principal Rule State Value
It is not down in any map; true places never are.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Draw Map One Liner Place True
What is an atheist, but one who does not, or will not, see in the universe a ruling principle of love; and what a misanthrope, but one who does not, or will not, see in man a ruling principle of kindness?
HERMAN MELVILLE

Atheist Communication Kindness Men Principle Rule Thinking
I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Coast Love Myself Sea Travel Unknown
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

Forever Free Future Government Past Religious Stand
Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight, is said to be the only truth.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Friendship Love Sight Truth
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
You cannot spill a drop of American blood without spilling the blood of the whole world…. We are not a nation, so much as a world.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Blood Nation Whole World Yourself

There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.

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There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.

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Popular Authors

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