Being thus arrived in good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stale earth, their proper element.
—William Bradford, 1630Quotes
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.
—Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835Tomorrow we take to the mighty sea.
—Horace, 23 BCI am ill every time it blows hard, and nothing but my enthusiastic love for the profession keeps me one hour at sea.
—Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1804We are as near to heaven by sea as by land!
—Humphrey Gilbert, 1583We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea—whether it is to sail or to watch it—we are going back whence we came.
—John F. Kennedy, 1962And to our age’s drowsy blood / Still shouts the inspiring sea.
—James Russell Lowell, 1848The wonderful sea charmed me from the first.
—Joshua Slocum, 1900I 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.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1827Many, many steeples would have to be stacked one on top of another to reach from the bottom to the surface of the sea. It is down there that the sea folk live.
—Hans Christian Andersen, 1837He who commands the sea has command of everything.
—Francis Bacon, c. 1600Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.
—Zora Neale Hurston, 1937In all the ancient states and empires, those who had the shipping, had the wealth.
—William Petty, 1690