Because no man can ever feel his own identity aright except his eyes be closed; as if darkness were indeed the proper element of our essences, though light be more congenial to our clayey part.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that true understanding of oneself may only come through introspection, often in darkness, rather than through the external light that represents societal perception.
Herman Melville's quote reflects on the nature of self-identity and the tension between internal and external perceptions. It suggests that a person cannot fully grasp their essence or true self unless they turn inward, often symbolized by 'closing the eyes' or looking into darkness. This metaphor indicates that while external validation (the 'light') is appealing, the real understanding of one’s identity requires a deeper, often uncomfortable, journey into the self (the 'darkness').
In practice
During a personal development workshop, the facilitator quoted Melville to emphasize the importance of looking within.
A good laugh is a mighty good thing, and rather too scarce a good thing; the more's the pity. So, if any one man, in his own proper person, afford stuff for a good joke to anybody, let him not be backward, but let him cheerfully allow himself to spend and be spent in that way. And the man that has anything bountifully laughable about him, be sure there is more in that man than you perhaps think for.
The Marquesan girls dance all over; not only do their feet dance, but their arms, hands, fingers, ay, their very eyes seem to dance in their heads.
Dream tonight of peacock tails, Diamond fields and spouter whales. Ills are many, blessing few, But dreams tonight will shelter you.
Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning. And still deeper the meaning of that story of Narcissus, who because he could not grasp the tormenting mild image he saw in the fountain, plunged into it and was drowned. But that same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all.
If some books are deemed most baneful and their sale forbid, how then with deadlier facts, not dreams of doting men? Those whom books will hurt will not be proof against events. Events, not books should be forbid.
You cannot spill a drop of American blood without spilling the blood of the whole world.... We are not a nation, so much as a world.
Groups are grammatical fictions; only individuals exist, and each individual is different.
Theories, books and ideas created within ivory towers had real-world consequences.
You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.
Writing cannot express all words, words cannot encompass all ideas.
Dirt's a funny thing,' the Boss said. 'Come to think of it, there ain't a thing but dirt on this green God's globe except what's under water, and that's dirt too. It's dirt makes the grass grow. A diamond ain't a thing in the world but a piece of dirt that got awful hot. And God-a-Mighty picked up a handful of dirt and blew on it and made you and me and George Washington and mankind blessed in faculty and apprehension. It all depends on what you do with the dirt. That right?
If there was an observer on Mars, they would probably be amazed that we have survived this long.
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