"Truth is the silliest thing under the sun. Try to get a living by the Truth and go to the Soup Societies. Heavens! Let any clergyman try to preach the Truth from its very stronghold, the pulpit, and they would ride him out of his church on his own pulpit bannister."

Motivation

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Insight & Reflection

This reflection on motivation by Herman Melville resonates across generations. It highlights a fundamental truth about human nature: our continuous search for meaning in motivation is what ultimately defines our character and our path forward.

About Herman Melville

Herman Melville was an American writer of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are Moby-Dick (1851), Typee (1846), a romanticized account of his experiences in Polynesia, and Billy Budd, Sailor, a posthumously published novella. At the time of his death, Melville was not well known to the public, but 1919, the centennial of his birth, was the starting point of a Melville revival. Moby-Dick would eventually be considered one of the Great American Novels.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Herman Melville

"It is a profound truth that to know when to speak and when to listen is the hallmark of genuine discernment — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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"There are times when even the most potent governor must wink at transgression, in order to preserve the laws inviolate for the future."

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"The distance between ambition and reality is bridged solely by consistent effort. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue."

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"We are a big country, with lots of advantages and history. We are proud to be French. We have to call on patriotism at this time... to ask for an effort in the battle against debt."

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"Fortitude is the quiet voice at eventide saying: I will try once more tomorrow. Reflect upon this whenever doubt clouds your horizon — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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