Herman Melville Quotes

What a man does defiles him, not what is done by others.

Tis weak and vicious people who cast the blame on Fate. The right use of Fate is to bring up our conduct to the loftiness of nature.

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.

It is his restraint that is honorable to a person, not their liberty.

The man of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys.

Laws control the lesser man... Right conduct controls the greater one.

Respect for self is the beginning of cultivating virtue in men and women.

When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.

No one can harm the man who does himself no wrong.

A man's character is his guardian divinity.

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

If it's in your control, why do you do it? If it's in someone else's control, then who are you blaming? Atoms? The gods? Stupid either way. Blame no one. Set people straight, if you can. If not, just repair the damage.

Assume a virtue, if you have it not. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat; Of habits devil, is angel yet in this.

We should make virtue our master, not our servant.

Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.

One who is allowed to sin, sins less

O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.

Remember, no matter what you background is and what your current circumstances are, you have the capacity to take action. This is one of the golden threads of humanity - we all have the power to act in a way that will improve the quality of our lives.

The weakest man is the one who is able to correct his moral defects, but doesn't take action.

If we cannot count on ourselves to do the right thing how can we count on anyone or anything else? Self-government won't work without self-discipline.

Whatever any one does or says, I must be good; just as if the emerald were always saying this: "Whatever any one does or says, I must still be emerald, and keep my color.

Those who have more power are liable to sin more; no theorem in geometry is more certain than this.

It was time to pull my moral socks up and behave myself.

It is not enough to recognize what is right and true. One must control the impulse to do what is wrong and easy.

Why then be perverted and follow thy flesh? Be it converted and follow thee.