An utterly fearless man is a far more dangerous comrade than a coward.

Courage is the most common and vulgar of the virtues.

In armies, navies, cities, or families, in nature herself, nothing more relaxes good order than misery.

I do not think I have any uncharitable prejudice against the rattlesnake, still, I should not like to be one.

There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness. And there is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he for ever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than other birds upon the plain, even though they soar.

Is Ahab, Ahab? Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm? But if the great sun move not of himself; but is an errand-boy in heaven; nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power; how then can this one small heart beat; this one small brain think thoughts; unless God does that beating, does that thinking, does that living, and not I.

I have written a wicked book, and feel spotless as the lamb.