I will follow my logic, no matter where it goes, after it has consulted with my heart. If you ever come to a conclusion without calling the heart in, you will come to a bad conclusion.
As far as I am concerned I wish to be out on the high seas. I wish to take my chances with wind, and wave, and star. And I had rather go down in the glory and grandeur of the storm, than rot in any orthodox harbor.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a desire for adventure and the willingness to face challenges rather than remaining in a safe but unfulfilling situation.
In this quote, Robert Green Ingersoll reflects on the idea of embracing risk and adventure over the safety of conformity. He suggests that experiencing life's challenges — represented by the 'high seas,' 'wind,' and 'storm' — is more meaningful than living a stagnant existence in a comfortable environment. Ingersoll celebrates the spirit of exploration and the beauty of confronting the unknown, emphasizing the importance of living fully and passionately.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for an inspirational speech about pursuing dreams.
More from Robert Green Ingersoll
All quotes →If the guardians of society, the protectors of 'young persons,' could have had their way, we should have known nothing of Byron or Shelley. The voices that thrill the world would now be silent.
The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, but a fraud and a curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by a musket is hardly worth making.
There is no slavery but ignorance.
In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest monuments sleeps the dust of murder.
I believe that there is something far nobler than loyalty to any particular man. Loyalty to the truth as we perceive it - loyalty to our duty as we know it - loyalty to the ideals of our brain and heart - is, to my mind, far greater and far nobler than loyalty to the life of any particular man or God. . . .
Similar quotes
Like: 'Don't walk out there with one hand in your pocket unless there's somethin' in there you're going to bring out.' You gotta commit. You've gotta go out there and improvise and you've gotta be completely unafraid to die. You've got to be able to take a chance to die. And you have to die lots. You have to die all the time.
Jesus wept, but He never complained.
I remember integrating the all-white Yazoo City High School after my Black school closed its doors. Teachers sprayed me with fire extinguishers, and I carried a stick to fend off attacks from fellow students.
Rosa Parks inspired me to find a way to get in the way, to get in trouble... good trouble, necessary trouble.
When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you’re going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins.