School is a rather grueling thing. Class. Discussions. Homework. Readings. Exams. Projects. Papers. Repeat. It's a lot. Yet somewhere in between that chemistry lab or that communications essay, some of it starts to grow on you. For me, that was the 500-page text that I recently finished for my Text and Context course. Yes, 500 pages. But this text was none other than the famed Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. While it was long and oftentimes difficult to get through, Melville's themes and wise words perpetuated throughout the book no doubt made it worthwhile. So, since I dedicated the last three months of my life to this, and without further ado, here's my top picks for the greatest quotes in Melville's masterpiece:
10. Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.
One of the first of Ishmael's quotable ponderings. While this main character might not be the most politically correct kind of guy, he has his funny moments, and this particular quote is the start of a great friendship between Ishmael and Queepueg.
9. However, a good laugh is a mighty good thing, and rather too scarce a good thing.
Going back to the Queepueg situation. This pretty much sums up Ishmael's thoughts toward the beginning of their friendship.
8. Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing.
Spoiler alert: Captain Ahab is mad. Ishmael makes that pretty clear.
7. It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he had a great secret in him.
To an old sailor named Elijah Ishmael says this before he sails on his fateful voyage. This is his nonchalant reaction to the sailor's warning him of what is to come with Captain Ahab.
6. No, his great genius is declared in his doing nothing particular to prove it.
You would think this statement is about a man, perhaps a great mate like Starbuck. No. It's about a whale.
5. There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method.
This is Ishmael's take on the writing of his own book. Yes, it eventually became a classic, but his extensive array of disorderly chapters about whaling sure make it a somewhat difficult read.
4. And some certain significance lurks in all things, else all things are little worth.
The narrator says this about Ahab's newfound interest in his golden coin in chapter 99. To others this is just further evidence that the captain is crazy. Ishmael instead comes up with a quote that requires too much thinking for the regular human mind.
3. It is not down in any map; true places never are.
This is just a super awesome quote about where Queepueg is from. It could be a tattoo. A canvas. A senior quote. Etc.
2. For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness.
Yet another quote about the infamous Ahab. While this statement is rather obvious when it is applied to Ahab, one can't help but reflect on how this could be equally applied to real life.
1. Call me Ishmael.
Okay, this is a given. It's a pretty famous quote. It's super straight-forward, and for that it is beloved, just like the rather-long and highly-abstract yet still super awesome book itself.
