The Daily Dick: Musings on the Greatest Novel Ever

“Well, well; I heard Ahab mutter, ‘Here some one thrusts these cards into these old hands of mine; swears that I must play them, and no others.’ And damn me, Ahab, but thou actest right; live in the game, and die in it!”

This line, coming on the heels of Starbuck's acquiescence to fate, comes from Stubb, the second mate. Here we have a glimpse into someone who believes Ahab is behaving the way he should - full steam ahead. Both men are doomed, of course, but they see Ahab's motivation for revenge in very different ways.