I love moving water, I love ships, I love the sharp definition, the concentrated humanity, the sublime solitude of life at sea. The dangers of it only make present to us the peril inherent in all existence, which the stupid, ignorant, un-travelled land-worm never discovers; and the art of it, so mathematical, so exact, so rewarding to intelligence, appeals to courage and clears the mind of superstition, while filling it with humility and true religion.

That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject.

Miracles are propitious accidents, the natural causes of which are too complicated to be readily understood.

Nature drives with a loose rein and vitality of any sort can blunder through many a predicament in which reason would despair.

A great man need not be virtuous, nor his opinions right, but he must have a firm mind, a distinctive luminous character.

The soul, too has her virginity and must bleed a little before bearing fruit.

To knock a thing down, especially if it is cocked at an arrogant angle, is a deep delight of the blood.