The life of a sailor is very unhealthy.

Seamen are the nearest to death and the furthest from God.

The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea.

Ashore it’s wine, women, and song; aboard it’s rum, bum, and concertina.

I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way.

The power which the sea requires in the sailor makes a man of him very fast, and the change of shores and population clears his head of much nonsense of his wigwam.

I 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.

The sole business of a seaman onshore who has to go to sea again is to take as much pleasure as he can.

A fair complexion is unbecoming to a sailor: he ought to be swarthy from the waters of the sea and the rays of the sun.

The sea hath fish for every man.

He who commands the sea has command of everything.

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most.

The legislator is like the navigator of a ship on the high seas. He can steer the vessel on which he sails, but he cannot alter its construction, raise the wind, or stop the waves from swelling beneath his feet.