The bathing was so delightful this morning, and Molly so pressing with me to enjoy myself, that I believe I stayed in rather too long, as since the middle of the day I have felt unreasonably tired. I shall be more careful another time, and shall not bathe tomorrow as I had before intended.

Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.

The sea hath no king but God alone.

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.

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.

He who commands the sea has command of everything.

What will not attract a man’s stare at sea?—a gull, a turtle, a flying fish!

Alone, alone, all, all alone, / Alone on a wide, wide sea!

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

The sea yields action to the body, meditation to the mind, the world to the world, all parts thereof to each part, by this art of arts—navigation.

The life of a sailor is very unhealthy.

As to the sea itself, love it you cannot. Why should you? I will never believe again the sea was ever loved by anyone whose life was married to it. It is the creation of omnipotence, which is not of humankind and understandable, and so the springs of its behavior are hidden.

We 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.