Skip to content
quotesby

When the cabin port-holes are dark and green Because of the seas outside; When the ship goes wop (with a wiggle between) And the steward falls into the soup-tureen, And the trunks begin to slide; When Nursey lies on the floor in a heap, And Mummy tells you to let her sleep, And you aren't waked or washed or dressed, Why, then you will know (if you haven't guessed) You're 'Fifty North and Forty West!'

Rudyard Kipling#46

TravelSeaChildhoodHumorStorm

About this quote

What does it mean?
A child describes the chaotic experience of a storm at sea through humor.
In plain terms
You know you are at sea when the ship shakes and people spill.
What can you take from it?
Use humor to deal with uncomfortable travel situations.

Where it applies

  • voyage
  • parenting
  • storytelling

Putting it to work

  • writing for children
  • travel logs

Questions to consider

  • How do you find humor in fear?
  • What defines home?

Another view

It trivializes the real dangers of shipping and storms.

More from Rudyard Kipling

  1. Now these are the Laws of the jungle, and many and mighty are they; But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump is - Obey!

    Permalink to quote #45
  2. I keep six honest serving-men: (They taught me all I knew) Their names are What and Where and When And How and Why and Who.

    Permalink to quote #47
  3. When Pack meets with Pack in the Jungle, and neither will go from the trail, Lie down till the leaders have spoken - it may be fair words shall prevail.

    Permalink to quote #44

Related quotes

  1. Whether beyond the stormy Hebrides, Where thou perhaps under the whelming tide Visit'st the bottom of the monstrous world.

    John MiltonJohn Milton quote #111
  2. I remember one day I was coming home from kindergarten I--well, I thought it was kindergarten, it turned out later I'd been working in a factory for two years.…

    Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneres quote #1
  3. I'd rather be in Las Vegas 104 degrees than New York 90 degrees, you know why? Legalized prostitution. In any weather that takes the edge off.

    Ray RomanoRay Romano quote #1