I am speaking of the now nearly vanished sea-life under sail.

To those who may be surprised at the statement I will point out that this life secured for the mind of him who embraced it the inestimable advantages of solitude and silence.

Marlow had the habit of pursuing general ideas in a peculiar manner, between jest and earnest.
"Oh, I wouldn't suggest," he said, "that your namesake Mr.Powell, the Shipping Master, had done you much harm.

Such was hardly his intention.
And even if it had been he would not have had the power.

He was but a man, and the incapacity to achieve anything distinctly good or evil is inherent in our earthly condition.