And now, without having wearied my friends, I hope, with detailed scientific accounts, theories, or deductions, I will only say that I have endeavoured to tell just the story of the adventure itself.

To young men contemplating a voyage I would say go.

But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves?

To know the laws that govern the winds, and to know that you know them, will give you an easy mind on your voyage round the world; otherwise you may tremble at the appearance of every cloud.

The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.

To be taken into account were some years of schooling, where I studied with diligence Neptune's laws, and these laws I tried to obey when I sailed overseas; it was worth the while.

Anyhow, a philosophical turn of thought now was not amiss, else one's patience would have given out almost at the harbour entrance. The term of her probation was eight days.

...as the day wore on I watched the birds all flying in one direction, and said, Land lies there.

I once knew a writer who, after saying beautiful things about the sea, passed through a Pacific hurricane, and he became a changed man.

As for myself, the wonderful sea charmed me from the first.

If the Spray discovered no continents on her voyage, it may be that there were no more continents to be discovered. She did not seek new worlds, or sail to pow-wow about the dangers of the sea.

Some people are magic, and others are just the illusion of it.

...you meditate and you got the candles, you got the incense and you've been chanting, and all of a sudden you hear this voice: 'Write this down'

If you stare long enough at anything, you will start to find similarities. The word “coincidence” exists in order to stop people from seeing meaning where none exists.

things which in my mind blossom will stumble beneath a clumsiest disguise appear capable of fragility and indecision

If my time with my kids is shorter than it was yesterday, it's better than nothing.

Eating soup with a fork: slow and messy.

I read comics and I did science, and never really put them together until I accidentally found myself in the middle of one.

Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.

Make passionate my sense of hearing.

As I get older, I think I'm more interested in comedy that doesn't take cheap shots. But I watched some of that Justin Bieber "roast" and I thought it was hilarious.