The breaking of a wave cannot explain the whole sea.

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 as near to heaven by sea as by land!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Tomorrow we take to the mighty sea.

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.

Ashore it’s wine, women, and song; aboard it’s rum, bum, and concertina.

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

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most.