"For we are all somehow dreadfully cracked" - a paragraph from Melville

An excerpt from "The Ramadan" chapter of Moby-Dick:
 
I love Ishmael very much, find him to be the best companion; of his time, of course, but always open, always willing to accept and even love all humanity. His reaction to his new friend Queequeg's intense Ramadan observances seems particularly relevant in January of 2015. 

I say, we good Presbyterian Christians should be charitable in these things, and not fancy ourselves so vastly superior to other mortals, pagans and what not, because of their half-crazy conceits on these subjects. There was Queequeg, now, certainly entertaining the most absurd notions about Yojo and his Ramadan; -- but what of that? Queequeg thought he knew what he was about, I suppose; he seemed to be content; and there let him rest. All our arguing with him would not avail; let him be, I say: and Heaven have mercy on us all -- Presbyterians and Pagans alike -- for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending.

                                                                                      -from "The Ramadan"
                                                                                        Moby-Dick, or The Whale
                                                                                        Herman Melville
                                                                                        circa 1851

Now that's a beard.