Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819, in New York City, USA. A well-known writer and novelist, Melville actually started as a sailor and merchant to help his family financially. He was nearly 30 years old when he published his first book called Typee. He managed to be financially secured which leads to his marriage to Elizabeth Shaw.
While most of his books are based on his experience as a sailor, he also published books about romance and adventure which didn’t take off such as Mardi, Redburn, and White Jacket.
Melville’s most popular book Moby Dick or, The Whale took him 1.5 years to write in 1850. However, once he finished writing, the book didn’t find its audience or readers who appreciate the book. Unfortunately, Melville died in 1891 and did not see his book Moby Dick became popular in the 1920s.
In 1857, he dove into poetry writing which was inspired by war. He also worked as a customs inspector for 19 years where he worked hard to fight corruption. Due to exhaustion from a demanding job, Melville’s health declined both physically and mentally. It was rumoured that he also physically abused his wife when drunk.
During his final years, income has been limited and his family was supported by relatives. In 1888, there was a little peak of popularity on his book in England which lead him to release two collections of poems.
Today, his books Moby Dick or, the Whale, Billy Budd, Mardi, White Jacket, Perre, and Typee are successful and considered classic books.
ALSO READ: Ernest Hemingway Quotes and Hans Christian Andersen quotes
HERMAN MELVILLE QUOTES COMPILATION
Enjoy this collection of Herman Melville quotes about life, sailing, war, love, adventure, and more.
“The poor man wants many things; the covetous man, all.”
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.”
“Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its jagged edges.”
“Yes, as everyone knows, meditation and water are wedded forever.”
“Real strength never impairs beauty or harmony, but it often bestows it, and in everything imposingly beautiful, strength has much to do with the magic”
“He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the true test of greatness.”
“To know how to grow old is the masterwork of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.”
“See how elastic our prejudices grow when once love comes to bend them.”
“Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them: the secret of our paternity lies in their grave, and we must there to learn it.”
“Amity itself can only be maintained by reciprocal respect, and true friends are punctilious equals.”
Melville died on September 28, 1891, from cardiac dilation. He is resting in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.
I hope you found this Herman Melville quotes collection.
SAVE THESE HERMAN MELVILLE QUOTES ON YOUR PINTEREST:
