Who said “He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes.”?

Verified

Herman Melville. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Nathaniel Hawthorne, including bits of a review of his work that he had written (c. 16 April 1851); in Julian Hawthorne, Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Wife, vol. I (1884), ch. VIII, p. 388

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“He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes.”
VerifiedLetter to Nathaniel Hawthorne, including bits of a review of his work that he had written (c. 16 April 1851); in Julian Hawthorne, Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Wife, vol. I (1884), ch. VIII, p. 388 · evidenceObstinacy

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne, including bits of a review of his work that he had written (c. 16 April 1851); in Julian Hawthorne, Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Wife, vol. I (1884), ch. VIII, p. 388.

APA

Melville, H. (n.d.). He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27848-he-says-no-in-thunder-but-the-devil/

MLA

Melville, Herman. “He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27848-he-says-no-in-thunder-but-the-devil/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Melville, Herman. “He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27848-he-says-no-in-thunder-but-the-devil/.