Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.
—Publilius Syrus, c. 30 BCQuotes
Never trust her at any time when the calm sea shows her false alluring smile.
—Lucretius, c. 60 BCTomorrow we take to the mighty sea.
—Horace, 23 BCI 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, 1827The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
—Edward Gibbon, 1788The sole business of a seaman onshore who has to go to sea again is to take as much pleasure as he can.
—Leigh Hunt, 1820You 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. 1670The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea.
—James Joyce, 1922The sea receives us in a proper way only when we are without clothes.
—Pliny the Elder, 77He 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, 1846The wonderful sea charmed me from the first.
—Joshua Slocum, 1900The sea hath fish for every man.
—William Camden, 1605Ocean. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man—who has no gills.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906