Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver, but less daring. Thus with seamen: he who goes the oftenest round Cape Horn goes the most circumspectly.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Frequent exposure to danger makes experienced people more cautious rather than more reckless.
- In plain terms
- People who face danger often become careful.
- What can you take from it?
- Experience makes brave people more cautious.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does experience always bring wisdom?
- When does caution fail?
Another view
Some experienced people become reckless rather than cautious.
More from Herman Melville
Oh, give me again the rover's life--the joy, the thrill, the whirl! Let me feel thee again, old sea! let me leap into thy saddle once more. I am sick of these …
Permalink to quote #5 In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
Permalink to quote #7 Many sensible things banished from high life find an asylum among the mob.
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
Jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft is not a natural act. So let's do it right, enjoy the view. Come on. (as Gunnery Sgt. Tom 'Gunny' Highway in 'Heartbre…
Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood quote #19 Anything you don't understand is dangerous until you do understand it.
Larry NivenLarry Niven quote #1 No, gentlemen, if I am to be shot at, I want no man to be in the way of the bullet.
Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson quote #3