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The worst of our evils we blindly inflict upon ourselves our officers cannot remove them, even if they would.

Herman Melville

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Herman Melville
Age: 72 †
Born: 1819
Born: August 1
Died: 1891
Died: September 28
Art Collector
Essayist
Lecturer
Literary Critic
Novelist
Poet
Sailor
Teacher
Writer
Manhattan borough
New York City
Hermann Melville
Herman Melvill
Remove
Worst
Upon
Evil
Cannot
Blindly
Even
Inflict
Would
Evils
Officers

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Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.
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O Death, the Consecrator! Nothing so sanctifies a name As to be written--Dead. Nothing so wins a life from blame, So covers it from wrath and shame, As doth the burial-bed.
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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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There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order to preserve the laws inviolate for the future.
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We are off! The courses and topsails are set: the coral-hung anchor swings from the bow: and together, the three royals are given to the breeze, that follows us out to sea like the baying of a hound.
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Those of us who always abhorred slavery as an atheistical iniquity, gladly we join in the exulting chorus of humanity over its downfall.
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As in digging for precious metals in the mines, much earthy rubbish has first to be troublesomely handled and thrown out so, in digging in one's soul for the fine gold of genius, much dullness and common-place is first brought to light.
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There never was a great man yet who spent all his life inland.
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Top-heavy was the ship as a dinnerless student with all Aristotle in his head.
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See how elastic our prejudices grow when once love comes to bend them.
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Of all human events, perhaps, the publication of a first volume of verses is the most insignificant but though a matter of no moment to the world, it is still of some concern to the author.
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Nature is nobody's ally.
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Ah, happiness courts the light so we deem the world is gay. But misery hides aloof so we deem that misery there is none.
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He seemed to take to me quite as naturally and unbiddenly as I to him and when our smoke was over, he pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth we were married.
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The great God absolute! The centre and circumference of all democracy! His omnipresence, our divine equality!
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I do not think I have any uncharitable prejudice against the rattlesnake, still, I should not like to be one.
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The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails whereon my soul is grooved to run
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It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he had a great secret in him.
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In thoughts of the visions of the night, I saw long rows of angels in paradise, each with his hands in a jar of spermaceti.
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Yet habit - strange thing! what cannot habit accomplish?
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