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Herman Melville

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Silence is the general consecration of the universe. Silence is the invisible laying on of the Divine Pontiff's hands upon the world. Silence is at once the most harmless and the most awful thing in all nature. It speaks of the Reserved Forces of Fate. Silence is the only Voice of our God.
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Bk. XIV, ch. 1
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A paraphrase of the last portion of this has sometimes been cited as a quotation of Melville: God's one and only voice is silence.

 
Herman Melville

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