The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.

But look, our seas are what we make of them, full of fish or not, opaque or transparent, red or black, high or smooth, narrow or bankless—and we are ourselves sea, sand, coral, seaweed, beaches, tides, swimmers, children, waves.

We are as near to heaven by sea as by land!

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.

In all the ancient states and empires, those who had the shipping, had the wealth.

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

The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea.

The sea hath no king but God alone.

He who commands the sea has command of everything.

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.

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

It is He who has subdued the ocean so that you may eat of its fresh fish and bring up from its depth ornaments to wear. Behold the ships plowing their course through it. All this, that you may seek His bounty and render thanks.