"A noble craft, but somehow a most melancholy! All noble things are touched with that."

"To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme."

"Real strength never impairs beauty or harmony, but it often bestows it, and in everything imposingly beautiful, strength has much to do with the magic."

"Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its jagged edges."

"It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he had a great secret in him."

"Think not, is my eleventh commandment; and sleep when you can, is my twelfth."

"Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form."

"...to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee."

"A man thinks that by mouthing hard words he understands hard things."

"I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."

"Ignorance is the parent of fear."

"Call me Ishmael."

"...and Heaven have mercy on us all - Presbyterians and Pagans alike - for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending."

"For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men"

"Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me."

"I would prefer not to."

"I try all things, I achieve what I can."

"As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."

"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed."

"It is not down on any map; true places never are."

"Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunk Christian."

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

"A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities."

"I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing."