Captain James Cook Quotes
12 quotes from Captain James Cook — British explorer and navigator who made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, mapping lands from New Zealand to Hawaii..
“Ambition leads me not only farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go.”
“From what I have said of the Natives of New-Holland they may appear to some to be the most wretched people upon Earth, but in reality they are far more happier than we Europeans; being wholly unacquainted not only with the superfluous but the necessary Conveniences so much sought after in Europe, they are happy in not knowing the use of them. They live in a Tranquillity which is not disturb'd by the Inequality of Condition: The Earth and sea of their own accord furnishes them with all things necessary for life, they covet not Magnificent Houses, Household-stuff &c., they live in a warm and fine Climate and enjoy a very wholesome Air. ... In short they seem'd to set no Value upon any thing we gave them, nor would they ever part with any thing of their own for any one article we could offer them; this in my opinion argues that they think themselves provided with all the necessarys of Life and that they have no superfluities.”
“The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”
“I had ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever been before, but as far as it was possible for a man to go.”
“Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.”
“He should have come up and: 'hello', you know, 'hello.' Now, asking him for his place, to come through, because Aboriginal land.”
“From what I have said of the Natives of New Holland they may appear to some to be the most wretched People upon Earth; but in reality they are far more happier than we Europeans... They live in a Warm and fine Climate, and enjoy every wholesome Air... They seem'd to set no Value upon anything we gave them, nor would they ever part with anything of their own for any one Article we could offer them. This, in my opinion, Argues that they think themselves provided with all the necessarys of Life, and that they have no Superfluities.”
“After this account of myself, the Public must not expect from me the elegance of a fine writer, or the plausibility of a professed book-maker; but will, I hope, consider me as a plain man, zealously exerting himself in the service of his Country, and determining to give the best account he is able of his proceedings.”
“I resolved for the future never to despise Dog's flesh.”
“I must however observe in favour of the New Zealanders that I have allways found them of a Brave, Noble, Open and benevolent disposition.”
“If there were any land nearer to the pole it would be so hemmed in by ice that it would never be explored.”
“I intended to go not only farther than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go.”
