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Quotes

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.

—Publilius Syrus, c. 30 BC

Never trust her at any time when the calm sea shows her false alluring smile.

—Lucretius, c. 60 BC

Tomorrow we take to the mighty sea.

—Horace, 23 BC

I never even saw the use of the sea. Many a sad heart has it caused, and many a sick stomach has it occasioned! The boldest sailor climbs on board with a heavy soul and leaps on land with a light spirit.

—Benjamin Disraeli, 1827

The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.

—Edward Gibbon, 1788

The sole business of a seaman onshore who has to go to sea again is to take as much pleasure as he can.

—Leigh Hunt, 1820

You never enjoy the world aright, till the sea itself floweth in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars.

—Thomas Traherne, c. 1670

The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea.

—James Joyce, 1922

The sea receives us in a proper way only when we are without clothes.

—Pliny the Elder, 77

He who travels by sea is nothing but a worm on a piece of wood, a trifle in the midst of a powerful creation. The waters play about with him at will, and no one but God can help him.

—Muhammad as-Saffar, 1846

The wonderful sea charmed me from the first.

—Joshua Slocum, 1900

The sea hath fish for every man.

—William Camden, 1605

Ocean. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man—who has no gills.

—Ambrose Bierce, 1906