Because no man can ever feel his own identity aright except his eyes be closed; as if darkness were indeed the proper element of our essences, though light be more congenial to our clayey part.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that true understanding of oneself may only come through introspection, often in darkness, rather than through the external light that represents societal perception.
Herman Melville's quote reflects on the nature of self-identity and the tension between internal and external perceptions. It suggests that a person cannot fully grasp their essence or true self unless they turn inward, often symbolized by 'closing the eyes' or looking into darkness. This metaphor indicates that while external validation (the 'light') is appealing, the real understanding of one’s identity requires a deeper, often uncomfortable, journey into the self (the 'darkness').
In practice
During a personal development workshop, the facilitator quoted Melville to emphasize the importance of looking within.
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.
About Superman and Batman: the former is how America views itself, the latter, darker character is how the rest of the world views America.
The life function of [the local church] is to love the God who created it - to care for others out of obedience to Christ, to heal those who hurt, to take away fear, to restore community, to belong to one another, to proclaim the Good News while living it out. The church is the invisible made visible.
Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God
The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for mysteries cannot be coded, or legislated, and wonder cannot be made into law. And so these legislators police the accepted frontiers of things.
Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference.
Whenever you are alone, remind yourself that God has sent everyone else away so that there is only you and Him.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.