Moby Dick: or The Whale Museum

Admit it, none of you have read Moby Dick.  Actually, it is the story of the struggle of a senior curator to collect specimens for his museum's natural history collection. Understandably it and has gone down in history as a classic of American literature. Think of it as the written equivalent of Night at the Museum 2.

What many people don't know is that the famous quotes from the book actually relate to the management of the Pequod Wing of the Whale Museum under the watchful director Capt. Ahab. Let me give you the context to save you reading the book.


“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.”

Ahab expresses curiosity at the Senior Interpretion Officer's plan to collaborate on the next temporary exhibition with Clowns International*.


"Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunk Christian."

The Education Manager working out the rules for the new schools sleepover initiative in the World Cultures gallery.


“As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote."

The Conservator begins to suspect pest infestation in the Himalayan Wild Yak specimens.


“for there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men ”

The Museum Manager begins to regret setting up a suggestion box in the volunteers' rest room.


“Ignorance is the parent of fear.”

Reception staff realise that modern infant naming has moved on in the 21st Century.


“...to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.”

Ishmael's six monthly appraisal gets off to a confrontational start.


“Think not, is my eleventh commandment; and sleep when you can, is my twelfth.”

The Gallery Assistant explains a possible reason why an expensive work of art went missing on his watch.


“See how elastic our prejudices grow when once love comes to bend them.”

The team building away day gets off to an interesting start.


“Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe.”

The Interpreter's response to criticism by a local Professor regarding historical inaccuracies in the latest exhibition .


“There is all the difference in the world between paying and being paid.”

The Union's response to the suggestion, in an attempt to make the museum sustainable, that staff should pay to come to work.work


“There she blows!-there she blows!”

The gas boiler breaks again!




*It really exists https://www.clownsinternational.com