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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

Yet habit – strange thing! what cannot habit accomplish?
HERMAN MELVILLE

Accomplishment Habit Inspirational Strange
My body is but the lees of my better being.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Better Body Myself
Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight, is said to be the only truth.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Friendship Love Sight Truth
There is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Contrast Existence Quality World
To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Art Greatness Growth Known Life Master Old Wisdom Work
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
There is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Gentle Hide Known Mystery Sea Soul Sweet Talk
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
What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will insist upon the universal application of a temporary feeling or opinion.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Application Feeling Man Opinion Play Truth Universal
Ignorance is the parent of fear.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Fear Ignorance One Liner Parenting
As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Feeling Love Myself Nature Remote Sea
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 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
I am a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Easy Life Man Myself Way Youth
The worst of our evils we blindly inflict upon ourselves; our officers cannot remove them, even if they would.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Blind Evil Ourselves Removal Worst
Thinking is, or ought to be, a coolness and a calmness; and our poor hearts throb, and our poor brains beat too much for that.
HERMAN MELVILLE

Brain Calm Cool Heart Ourselves Thinking

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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