Quote of the Day by Hermine Melville, "He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the true test..."

Few writers in literary history better exemplify the inseparable nature of success and failure than Herman Melville. Today he is considered one of America’s greatest novelists and the author of “Moby Dick,” a masterpiece that has influenced generations of readers and writers. But Melville’s life was a series of disappointments, financial and otherwise, and he was neglected by critics. The irony is that the man who created some of the greatest works in the English language spent most of his life convinced that his best efforts had failed.Herman Melville was born August 1, 1819 in New York City. He was third in a family of eight children and they were quite comfortably placed in society. But he had a bad childhood. His father, Allan Melville, had money problems and died when Herman was only twelve, leaving his family in debt. Melville was young and had little education, and he had to go to work early to help his family. He held a variety of jobs, including teaching, clerical work and farm labour. These experiences brought him into contact with all sorts of people and gave him a practical insight into human nature that was to enrich his writing later.Sea AdventuresMelville threw himself on the sea for opportunity and adventure. 1841 signed on a whaling vessel, the Acushnet. His experiences on board the vessel and on remote islands in the South Pacific would profoundly influence his literary career. Melville’s travels exposed him to different cultures, the harshness of working conditions, and the mighty power of nature. He even deserted his ship in the Marquesas Islands and lived for some time with the natives. These queer adventures provided material for his early novels. His first books, Typee (1846) and Omoo (1847), were based on his travels and proved popular. For a short period Melville enjoyed literary success and public recognition.The Making of Moby-DickAs Melville grew as a writer, so did his ambitions. He did not want to simply entertain readers with adventure stories, but to explore man’s relationship to fate, obsession, good and evil and the mysteries of being. These ambitions reached their climax in Moby-Dick (1851). The novel follows Captain Ahab on his obsessive quest to find a great white whale that had bitten off his leg in a previous encounter. On the face of it is an exciting sea adventure story. But underneath that veneer is a deep examination of obsession, revenge, mortality and the limits of human knowledge. Today Moby-Dick is regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written. But when it was first published, it was poorly received and sold. Many readers found its complexity difficult, and critics had a hard time appreciating its innovative structure and symbolism. Melville was bitterly disappointed at the failure of the book. His brain, his creative mind, his experience, he had put into what he regarded as his best work.Later Life and Decline in CareerWhile Moby-Dick was a commercial failure, Melville went on to write ambitious novels. Unfortunately, these plays also did not draw big crowds. His finances deteriorated as the public lost interest in his writing. Finally Melville abandoned hope of earning a living by literature alone. He got a job as a customs inspector on the New York docks, a position he held for almost twenty years. During this time he continued to write, but mostly out of the public eye. When Melville died in 1891, many newspapers regarded his passing as a relatively minor event. Some even spelt his name wrong. “The world seemed to have pretty much forgotten him.Rediscovery and legacy in literatureWhat was so remarkable about Melville’s story was the twist it took after his death. During the early twentieth century his work again came under new scrutiny from scholars and critics. They recognised the depth, originality and philosophic richness of his novels, especially Moby-Dick. This re-evaluation resulted in the so-called ‘Melville Revival’. He was slowly raised from a forgotten author to one of the most significant figures in American literature. Today Melville is studied in universities around the world. Moby-Dick is considered one of the great books of world literature and has influenced countless writers, filmmakers and thinkers.Melville’s prose styleHerman Melville is one of a kind in his style. His writing is complex, rich and intellectually stimulating. One of his signature traits was his ability to blend adventure and philosophy. Melville’s language was very imaginative. It was often inspired by Shakespeare and the Bible. His prose could be poetic, dramatic, symbolic. He often used metaphor and allegory, so that his works could be interpreted on various levels by the readers. He also had an affinity for ambiguity, another stylistic trademark. Melville did not try to provide easy answers; he insisted that readers grapple with ambiguity and with competing points of view. His characters were often faced with mysteries that could never be fully solved.Nature was another important element of his writings. The sea, in particular, became a powerful metaphor of beauty and terror, the great unknown forces that control human life.Quote of the DayOne of the most iconic quotes of Melville is, "It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the true test of greatness." This quote reflects not only Melville's philosophy but also the story of his own life.The quote means that greatness is not a series of successes without a break. Instead, it is shown in how a person responds to setbacks and disappointments. Failure tests character, resilience, courage and determination. It makes people confront their limitations, learn from their mistakes and keep pushing forward despite obstacles. Take Melville himself, as a prime example. His finest literary work was largely rejected by his contemporary readers. Financial hardship, professional disappointment and public neglect might have dissuaded many from trying at all. But he continued to write and to think deeply about the world around him.Ultimately history showed that these seeming failures of his career were failures in appearance only. They were steps in a path to a legacy that would outlive him for generations. The bigger meaning of the quote is that failure is often a key ingredient of growth. Perhaps those who never fail never test themselves enough to find out what they are really capable of. Perseverance through adversity leads to many great accomplishments. In this sense, Melville gives an enduring lesson that failure is not permanent. What matters is the willingness to keep on pursuing one’s purpose despite setbacks. Greatness is not necessarily born from success, but from the courage to face failure and carry on.