"Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian"

Herman Melville's quote, "Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian", from his unique "Moby-Dick", encapsulates a complex and intriguing comparison meant to critique social and moral hypocrisy. At its core, the quote challenges standard notions of civility and ethical superiority associated with Western, particularly Christian, society.

Melville's juxtaposition of a "sober cannibal" and a "drunken Christian" works as a metaphor for examining specific character beyond shallow labels. The "sober cannibal" represents what Western society might typically view as uncivilized or morally inferior due to cultural practices like cannibalism. However, the sobriety of the cannibal represents rationality, self-discipline, and a potential for credibility and integrity. On the other hand, the "inebriated Christian" signifies someone who, regardless of belonging to a culturally and religiously respected group, acts in a debased or ethically jeopardized manner due to drunkenness. This drunkenness suggests a lack of judgment, neglect for ethical habits, and possibly a failure to measure up to the principles the individual proclaims to hold.

Through this contrast, Melville questions the true nature of civility and morality. He implies that ethical habits and moral uprightness are not inherent to one's cultural or religious identity but are rather reflective of one's personal conduct. The quote likewise implicitly critiques the frequently hypocritical stance of Western society, which may evaluate others roughly based upon cultural practices while overlooking the ethical failings within its own sphere.

Additionally, Melville's words welcome readers to reconsider how they evaluate individuals and cultures. Instead of depending on stereotypes or surface-level judgments, the quote motivates an appreciation for private character and actions over associations or appearances. Eventually, Melville's statement is a call to worth credibility and integrity, despite societal preconceptions about civilization and barbarism.