The Island of Dr. Moreau Quotes

Context

This line is spoken by Edward Prendick in the novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, written by H.G. Wells (1896).

Coming at us from the granddaddy of sci-fi, H.G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau gives us the story of Edward Prendick, an English gentleman who washes up on the shores of an island that gives the one from Lost a run for its money. Instead of smoke monsters and confusing plot lines, this island boasts a mad doctor who has a lot of fun splicing animals with human beings, which sometimes doesn't go all that well.

The quote comes at the novel's tail end (pun intended), after Prendick escapes the brutal island and is reflecting on his adventures while safe back in England. In this final bout of philosophizing, Pendick theorizes that hope is one of the only things that separates man from beast, and that it's that very thing that keeps him going. Well, that and cups of tea probably; he is English, after all.

Where you've heard it

You might've seen this one on those inspirational quote memes. Yes, some memes aren't snarky. It's also pretty tweetable.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Quoting any Victorian novel totally bumps you up the pretentiousness scale.