“Now then, thought I, unconsciously rolling up the sleeve of my frock, here goes for a cool, collected dive at death and destruction, and the devil fetch the hindmost.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Herman Melville's novel, the narrator expresses a fearless and determined attitude towards facing danger and potential harm. By nonchalantly rolling up his sleeve and declaring "here goes for a cool, collected dive at death and destruction," the narrator demonstrates his willingness to confront challenges head-on, regardless of the risks involved. The phrase "the devil fetch the hindmost" further emphasizes this boldness and determination, suggesting that the narrator is willing to take on any obstacles that come his way without hesitation. This quote reflects themes of bravery, defiance, and a willingness to face uncertainty with courage.
Modern Relevance
In this quote from Herman Melville's novel, the protagonist reflects on facing a dangerous situation with determination and courage. This mindset can be applied in modern times to facing challenges and obstacles with a sense of bravery and readiness to tackle whatever comes your way. Just as the character in the novel prepares to dive into the unknown, we can channel this same attitude when confronting difficult circumstances in our own lives.
Example of Usage
"Now then, thought I, unconsciously rolling up the sleeve of my frock, here goes for a cool, collected dive at death and destruction, and the devil fetch the hindmost." - Herman Melville
Reflection Questions:
In this quote, the speaker is facing a daunting task with a sense of determination and defiance. Reflecting on this excerpt, consider the following questions:
What do you think the speaker means by "a cool, collected dive at death and destruction"?
How does the speaker's attitude towards this challenge affect your interpretation of the quote?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt compelled to face a daunting task head-on, despite the potential consequences? If so, how did you approach it?
How can this quote be applied to challenges or obstacles in your own life?
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“Start her, now; give 'em the long and strong stroke, Tashtego. Start her, Tash, my boy--start her, all; but keep cool, keep cool--cucumbers is the word--easy, easy--only start her like grim death and grinning devils, and raise the buried dead perpendicular out of their graves, boys--that's all. Start her!”
“I felt all the easier; a stone was rolled away from my heart. Besides, all the days I should now live would be as good as the days that Lazarus lived after his resurrection; a supplementary clean gain of so many months or weeks as the case might be. I survived myself; my death and burial were locked up in my chest.”
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“Doesn't the devil live forever; who ever heard that the devil was dead? Did you ever see any person wearing mourning for the devil?”