Says a writer whom few know, "Forty years after a battle it is easy for a non-combatant to reason about how it ought to have been fought. It is another thing personally and under fire to direct the fighting while involved in the obscuring smoke of it. Much so with respect to other emergencies involving considerations both practical and moral, and when it is imperative promptly to act."


Ch. 21 - Billy Budd, the Sailor (1891)

Herman Melville Quotes

Says a writer whom few know, Forty years after a battle it is easy for a non-combatant to reason about how it ought to have been fought. It is...

Says a writer whom few know, Forty years after a battle it is easy for a non-combatant to reason about how it ought to have been fought. It is...

Says a writer whom few know, Forty years after a battle it is easy for a non-combatant to reason about how it ought to have been fought. It is...

Says a writer whom few know, Forty years after a battle it is easy for a non-combatant to reason about how it ought to have been fought. It is...