how I wish I could fist a bit of old-fashioned beef in the fore-castle, as I used to when i was before the mast.

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

Ignorance is the parent of fear.

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.

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

[T]hen all collapsed, and the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago.

The classification of the constituents of a chaos, nothing less is here essayed.

Savage though he was, and hideously marred about the face-at least to my taste-his countenance yet had a something in it which was by no means disagreeable. You cannot hide the soul.

[T]here is no folly of the beasts of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.

Ahab and aguish lay stretched together in one hammock.

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

Fear is a good thing. It mean you're paying attention.

Self-knowledge is the great power by which we comprehend and control our lives

Intelligence agencies keep things secret because they often violate the rule of law or of good behavior.

I design from instinct. It's the only way I know how to live. What feels good. What feels right. What is needed. Give me a problem and I will approach it creatively, from my gut.

You have to comply, you have to obey - or you'd better resign and leave. But that is also the mark of a great leader - somebody who, in the presence of inner conflict, will do the right thing.

Things true and evident must of necessity be recognized by those who would contradict them.

When people are taken out of their depths they lose their heads, no matter how charming a bluff they may put up.

An artwork should point in more than one direction, not be this sort of placating, self-demonstrating, witnessing element.

I'm an optimist; I always hope that each new script is going to be a great story.

The less prudence with which others conduct their affairs, the greater the prudence with which we should conduct our own affairs.