A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.

Herman Melville · Pierre (1852), bk. IV

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

Herman Melville · Letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne (November 1851), on Moby-Dick

All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys.

Herman Melville · Battle-Pieces (1866), The March into Virginia

By heaven, man, we are turned round and round in this world, like yonder windlass, and Fate is the handspike.

Herman Melville · Moby-Dick (1851), ch. 132

More Witty Quotes

Your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.

Samuel Johnson

Only two topics can be of the least interest to a serious and studious mood—sex and the dead.

W. B. Yeats · The source reads: “I am still of opinion that only two topics can be of the least interest to a serious and studious mood—sex and the dead.” · The Letters of W. B. Yeats

If triangles had a god, he would have three sides.

Montesquieu

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We Value Your Opinion Comments

“A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.”

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

“All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys.”

“By heaven, man, we are turned round and round in this world, like yonder windlass, and Fate is the handspike.”

“Your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.”

“Only two topics can be of the least interest to a serious and studious mood—sex and the dead.”

“If triangles had a god, he would have three sides.”