Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

by Jules Verne

The Abraham Lincoln, propelled by her wonderful screw, went straight at the animal.

suddenly I was refreshed by a current of pure air, and perfumed with saline emanations. It was an invigorating sea breeze, charged with iodine. I opened my mouth wide, and my lungs saturated themselves with fresh particles.

I love this language.

The sea does not belong to despots. Upon its surface men can still exercise unjust laws, fight, tear one another to pieces, and be carried away with terrestrial horrors. But at thirty feet below its level, their reign ceases, their influence is quenched, and their power disappears. Ah! sir, live—live in the bosom of the waters! There only is independence! There I recognise no masters! There I am free!"

I cast a last look upon the sea, slightly yellowed by the Japanese coast, and descended to the saloon.

That seems weirdly race-based

Never had it been given to me to surprise these animals, alive and at liberty, in their natural element.

That day being Christmas Day, Ned Land seemed to regret sorely the non-celebration of "Christmas," the family fete of which Protestants are so fond.

Ha.

I could easily have knocked down this native, who was within a short length; but I thought that it was better to wait for real hostile demonstrations. Between Europeans and savages, it is proper for the Europeans to parry sharply, not to attack.

The noblesse oblige of colonialism

The thunderbolt without the reverberations of thunder would frighten man but little, though the danger lies in the lightning, not in the noise.

Nature's creative power is far beyond man's instinct of destruction.

steam seems to have killed all gratitude in the hearts of sailors.

Perfume is the soul of the flower, and sea-flowers have no soul.

"Yes, sir," said the Captain, "and if I do not hesitate to tread this South Pole, it is because, up to this time, no human being has left a trace there." Saying this, he jumped lightly on to the sand. His heart beat with emotion. He climbed a rock, sloping to a little promontory, and there, with his arms crossed, mute and motionless, and with an eager look, he seemed to take possession of these southern regions.

There seals and otters had splendid repasts, eating the flesh of fish with sea-vegetables, according to the English fashion.

Sheaves of sparks and red ashes flew from the funnels, shining in the atmosphere like stars.