Quote
By Herman Melville
I would prefer not to.
- Source
- The Piazza Tales (first book edition), 1856 · "Bartleby", p. 48 (printed page number seen on the page image)
- Read at
- Internet Archive (scan of the first book edition, New York: Dix & Edwards, 1856)
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About this quote
The reply of Bartleby, the copyist in Herman Melville's story "Bartleby" (The Piazza Tales, New York: Dix & Edwards, 1856), the first time he refuses his employer. The story is told by his employer, a New York lawyer. This is Bartleby speaking.