I'll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.
 Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851). copy citation

edit
Author Herman Melville
Source Moby-Dick
Topic friendship kindness Christianity
Date 1851
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2701/2701-h/2701-h.htm

Context

“Wild he was; a very sight of sights to see; yet I began to feel myself mysteriously drawn towards him. And those same things that would have repelled most others, they were the very magnets that thus drew me. I'll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy. I drew my bench near him, and made some friendly signs and hints, doing my best to talk with him meanwhile. At first he little noticed these advances; but presently, upon my referring to his last night's hospitalities, he made out to ask me whether we were again to be bedfellows.” source

Meaning and analysis

write a note
report