It does seem to me, that herein we see the rare virtue of a strong individual vitality, and the rare virtue of thick walls, and the rare virtue of interior spaciousness. Oh, man! admire and model thyself after the whale! Do thou, too, remain warm among ice. Do thou, too, live in this world without being of it. Be cool at the equator; keep thy blood fluid at the Pole. Like the great dome of St. Peter's, and like the great whale, retain, O man! in all seasons a temperature of thine own.

Father Mapple paused a little; then kneeling in the pulpit's bows, folded his large brown hands across his chest, uplifted his closed eyes, and offered a prayer so deeply devout that he seemed kneeling and praying at the bottom of the sea.

That mortal man who hath more of joy than sorrow in him, that mortal man cannot be true--not true, or undeveloped.

I feel that the Godhead is broken up like the bread at the Supper, and that we are the pieces. Hence this infinite fraternity of feeling.

Ladies are like creeds; if you cannot speak well of them, say nothing.

...The silent reminiscence of hardships departed, is sweeter than the presence of delight.

A beautiful woman is born Queen of men and women both, as Mary Stuart was born Queen of Scots, whether men or women.