Re-read Victor’s speech to the sailors on board the ship. What is your reaction to this speech? How does this speech compare to his advice to Walton to “seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries?” What has Victor learned—or not learned—about the pursuit of knowledge?

When Walton's crew makes him promise that he will turn the ship around, a weakened Victor rouses himself to give what he intends to be, essentially, a pep talk. He says to the crew,

You were hereafter to be hailed as the benefactors of your species, your names adored as belonging to brave men who encountered death for honour and the benefit of mankind. And now, behold, with the first imagination of danger, or, if you will, the first mighty and terrific trial of your courage, you shrink away and are content to be handed down as men who had not strength enough to endure cold and peril; and so, poor souls, they were chilly and returned to their warm firesides. Why, that requires not this preparation; ye need not have come thus far and dragged your captain to the shame of a defeat merely to prove yourselves cowards!

Victor tries to inspire the men by first mentioning that they could be heroes if they are willing to go on and attempt to make discoveries that will benefit all of humankind. However, he chides them for wanting to turn around at the first sign of danger (which is, frankly, quite real and not at all imaginary, as he implies). He condemns them for lacking strength, for wanting to return to safety, and, finally, for allowing their captain to hope for greatness while they are turning cowards.
These words seem to stand in almost direct opposition to the advice Victor gives Walton earlier in the text: "seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries." Here, Victor tells Walton to be satisfied without achieving great things; he advises him to remain calm and not get wrapped up in his passion for discovery. Ultimately, it seems that Victor is unable to take his own advice or even to issue it consistently to others.