Patty’s Reviews > Moby-Dick > Status Update

Fell asleep reading on the couch last night. It’s such a shame that there’s no room for any “Starbuck” branding today. He’s the best character. I hate companies #spermaceti

I am horror-struck at this antemosaic, unsourced existence of the unspeakable terrors of the whale, which, having been before all time, must needs exist after all humane ages are over.

...while bathing in that bath, I felt divinely free from all ill-will, or petulance, or malice, of any sort whatsoever... Come; let us squeeze hands all round; nay, let us all squeeze ourselves into each other; let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and sperm of kindness... In thoughts of the visions of the night, I saw long rows of angels in paradise, each with his hands in a jar of spermaceti.

All men live enveloped in whalelines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life. And if you be a philosopher, though seated in the whale-boat, you would not at heart feel one whit more of terror, than though seated before your evening fire with a poker, and not a harpoon, by your side

got me watching docs about sperm whales now