If I am going to be drowned—if I am going to be drowned—if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees?

— Stephen Crane

It appeared that the swift wings of their desires would have shattered against the iron gates of the impossible.

— Stephen Crane

It is perhaps, plausible that a man in this situation, impressed with the unconcern of the universe, should see the innumerable flaws of his life and have them taste wickedly in his mind and wish for another chance.

— Stephen Crane

It perhaps might be said--if anyone dared--that the most worthless literature of the world has been that which has been written by the men of one nation concerning the men of another.

— Stephen Crane

It was wrong to do this," said the angel." You should live like a flower, Holding malice like a puppy, Waging war like a lambkin."" Not so," quoth the man Who had no fear of spirits;"It is only wrong for angels Who can live like the flowers, Holding malice like the puppies, Waging war like the lambkins.

— Stephen Crane

Nevertheless, he had, on a certain star-lit evening, said wonderingly and quite reverently: "Del moon looks like hell, don't it?

— Stephen Crane

None of them knew the color of the sky.

— Stephen Crane

Sometimes, the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest of moments.

— Stephen Crane

Tell her this And more, —That the king of the seas Weeps too, old, helpless man. The bustling fates Heap his hands with corpses Until he stands like a child With surplus of toys.

— Stephen Crane

The injured captain, lying in the bow, was at this time buried in that profound dejection and indifference which comes, temporarily at least, to even the bravest and most enduring when, willy-nilly, the firm fails, the army loses, the ship goes down.

— Stephen Crane