17 Most Memorable Moby Dick Quotes, Novel by Captain Herman Melville

People used to travel in the sea by ship quite a lot. That resulted in many great stories over the seas that should be written and shared, one of which inspired Moby Dick.

This allegorical book was written based on true events. Ahab travels on a voyage in the blue sea to chase the white whale.

moby dick quotes and explanations
Source: ebay.com

The chasing is based on his grudge against the whale that took off one of his legs. He spends his life to hunt Moby Dick which endangers his crews’ lives.

He seeks information from any sailors who might have seen the great whale. He’ll reward anybody who sees the whereabouts of the very creatures who leaves him in that kind of shape.

About Moby Dick Book

Moby Dick centers around the life of Captain Ahab whose leg got a bit off by Moby Dick, the white whale. Ishmael is one of his crew member, the narrator of this story.

Ahab announces to his men with knocking a gold doubloon on the mast that whoever is to spot Moby Dick first, the white whale, will get the coin.

moby dick sea quotes
Source: etsy.com

Moby Dick is eventually spotted by the captain. He chases it for a few days. Ahab drives a harpoon into Moby Dick.

Unfortunately, his attempts failed. His line strangles his neck and gets drowned to the depths.

Moby Dick runs amock and sinks the boat, the Pequod. Ishmael is the lone survivor who later gets rescued and lives to share this story.

Why Should Read Moby Dick

Melville’s Moby Dick serves you a chilling adventure of chasing the white wale. It lives up its reputation with unforgettable characters, beautiful storytelling with its sheer of insanity.

You’ll feel the tense through of the story when the crew faces Moby Dick in a wild, life-threatening battle in the ocean.

Moby Dick Quotes

Quotes from moby dick

It smells like the left wing of the day of judgment.

It is an evil voyage, I tell thee. If Ahab has his way, neither thee nor me, nor any member of this ship’s company will ever see home again. I fear the wrath of God.

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.

moby dick movie quotes
Source: pinterest.com

Queequeg, such behavior isn’t Christian. In fact, it’s downright pagan and heathenish.

This whole act’s immutably decreed. ‘Twas rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled. Fool! I am the Fates’ lieutenant; I act under orders.

Famous moby dick quotes

Aye, harpoons do like stuck in him like so many corkscrews. Aye, his spout is big, like Nantucket wheat. Aye, by death and devils, the white whale is Moby-Dick, if Moby-Dick you see! It was Moby-Dick that dismantled me, that reaped off my leg like a mower a blade of grass and left me with this dead stump I stand on. For forever and a day I shall chase that white whale.”

Omen? omen?–the dictionary! If the gods think to speak outright to man, they will honourably speak outright; not shake their heads, and give an old wives’ darkling hint.

herman melville moby dick quotes
Soruce: pinterest.com

When a typhoon suddenly strikes, Tom and Tub are swept miles away from their uncle’s vessel The Sea Explorer and find themselves in uncharted waters surrounded by menacing sharks. When all seems lost, they are rescued by the giant white whale, Moby Dick. Tom and Tub happily realize they have found a new friend who will protect them as they face the perils of the deep together.

There she blows!–there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick!

By heavens man, we are turned round and round in this world, like yonder windlass, and fate is the handspike.

Famous quotes from moby dick

These are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.

Sleep? That bed is a coffin, and those are winding sheets. I do not sleep, I die.

Give not thyself up, then, to fire, lest it invert thee, deaden thee; as for the time it did me. There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness.

quotes moby dick
Source: quotesgram.com

I don’t give reasons. I give orders!

Hereby perhaps Stubb indirectly hinted, that though man loved his fellow, yet man is a money-making animal, which propensity too often interferes with his benevolence.

Though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight, sharks will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship’s decks, like hungry dogs round a table where red meat is being carved, ready to bolt down every killed man that is tossed to them.

Start her, now; give ’em the long and strong stroke, Tashtego. Start her, Tash, my boy–start her, all; but keep cool, keep cool–cucumbers is the word–easy, easy–only start her like grim death and grinning devils, and raise the buried dead perpendicular out of their graves, boys–that’s all. Start her!

Moby Dick Trivia

Moby Dick was sold a little over 3700 copies when the author was alive. In 1891, the book was reprinted and widely acclaimed as an American classic. You’ll find this book quite astounding.

Moby Dick can be an example of one’s ambition. It’ll also teach you that one’s madness and crazy obsession will eventually destroy themselves.

Leave a Comment