Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

Let's bond over some whale hunting, shall we?

 

[Old Thunder]

Call me Ishmael.

 

[Old Thunder]

Some years ago -- never mind how long precisely -- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.

 

[Old Thunder]

It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation.

 

[Old Thunder]

Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moreal principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off -- then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.

 

[Censored]

It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation.

This reminds me of Andy Kaufman reading The Great Gatsby book in its entirety on stage.

 

[Old Thunder]

This is my substitute for a pistol and ball.

 

[Old Thunder]

With a philosophical flourish Cato* throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.

*The Roman statesman Cato the Younger (95 - 46 B.C.) killed himself rather than submit to Caesar.

 

[Old Thunder]

There is nothing surprising in this.

 

[Old Thunder]

If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.