Against the proud of this earth, stand forth your own inexorable self.

Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851), ch. 9

What it means

Father Mapple's sermon says real joy belongs to the person who stays true when the powerful push back. Do not bend to rank. Be yourself, firmly.

The source

"Against the proud of this earth, stand forth your own inexorable self." Herman Melville said it in Moby-Dick (1851), ch. 9. Written in English: Moby-Dick, 1851.

"Delight is to him—a far, far upward, and inward delight—who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self."

Original English (Moby-Dick, 1851), Moby-Dick (1851), ch. 9. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Herman Melville (1819–1891). Sailed on a whaler in the Pacific as a young man, then wrote Moby-Dick (1851), the great American novel of the sea.

Questions

What does "Against the proud of this earth, stand forth your own inexorable self." mean?: Father Mapple's sermon says real joy belongs to the person who stays true when the powerful push back. Do not bend to rank. Be yourself, firmly.
Who said "Against the proud of this earth, stand forth your own inexorable self."?: Herman Melville (1819–1891). Source: Moby-Dick (1851), ch. 9.
What is the original wording?: Delight is to him—a far, far upward, and inward delight—who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self (Original English (Moby-Dick, 1851)). Written in English: Moby-Dick, 1851.
Is "Against the proud of this earth, stand forth your own inexorable self." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Against the proud of this earth, stand forth your own inexorable self." (Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851), ch. 9, trans. Original English (Moby-Dick, 1851)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/against-the-proud-of-this-earth-stand-forth