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

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

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

He who commands the sea has command of everything.

The breaking of a wave cannot explain the whole sea.

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

And to our age’s drowsy blood / Still shouts the inspiring sea.

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.

You never enjoy the world aright, till the sea itself floweth in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars.

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

Of all objects that I have ever seen, there is none which affects my imagination so much as the sea or ocean. A troubled ocean, to a man who sails upon it, is, I think, the biggest object that he can see in motion, and consequently gives his imagination one of the highest kinds of pleasure that can arise from greatness.

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.

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.