We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people - the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world.
Interpretation
This quote expresses a sense of American exceptionalism, suggesting that Americans have a unique responsibility to uphold freedom for the entire world.
Herman Melville's quote reflects a belief in the unique role of Americans in global history, comparing them to the Israelites who were seen as chosen by God. It implies that, like the Israelites who carried the Ark of the Covenant, Americans are entrusted with the preservation and promotion of universal liberties, suggesting a moral obligation to lead by example and advocate for freedom worldwide.
In practice
During a speech on American values, one might refer to this quote to emphasize the moral responsibility of the U.S.
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.
Remove grace, and you have nothing whereby to be saved. Remove free will and you have nothing that could be saved.
They were connoisseurs of boredom. They savoured the various bouquets of the subtly differentiated boredoms which rose from the long, wasted hours at the dead end of night.
You're born naked, and the rest is drag! EVERYBODY is in drag. Whether you're a man or a woman. It just depends on how extreme you wanna go.
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth - more than ruin, more even than death.
Listening to other people's needs is listening to God. Noticing simple, natural beauty, hearing music, even confronting the challenge of pain and problems - that can all be listening to God too.
Capitalism itself is not to be condemned. And surely it is not vicious of its very nature, but it has been vitiated.
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