The sea hath no king but God alone.
—Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1881Quotes
Tomorrow we take to the mighty sea.
—Horace, 23 BCSeafarers go to sleep in the evening not knowing whether they will find themselves at the bottom of the sea the next morning.
—Jean de Joinville, c. 1305Never trust her at any time when the calm sea shows her false alluring smile.
—Lucretius, c. 60 BCI 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, 1827Seamen are the nearest to death and the furthest from God.
—Thomas Fuller, 1732We 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, 1962The sole business of a seaman onshore who has to go to sea again is to take as much pleasure as he can.
—Leigh Hunt, 1820The life of a sailor is very unhealthy.
—Francis Galton, 1883The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea.
—James Joyce, 1922I 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, 1804I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way.
—John Paul Jones, 1778All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full.
—Book of Ecclesiastes, c. 250 BC