50+ 'The Old Man And The Sea' Quotes By Ernest Hemingway

'The Old Man And The Sea' is an American short novel set in the island country of Cuba.

The book was the last major writing published during the lifetime of Ernest Hemingway. The book is narrated through the words of an aging fisherman and is one of the greatest works ever written by Ernest Hemingway.  

Written by Ernest Hemingway in 1951, the book was published in 1952.

The plot depicts the epic tussle between a seasoned fisherman and the biggest catch, the marlin, of his life. Santiago's struggle with his old age and bad luck is encapsulated in his 84-day wait to catch the marlin.

The fisherman's only support, in his tough times, is his young apprentice, Manolin although he too is compelled by his parents to desert him due to his rotten luck referred to as "salao" in the book.

The fisherman sets out in the gulf to fish using his limited strength and eventually manages to kill the marlin.

However, in the aftermath of the kill, a group of sharks fall in the line with his boat and strip the marlin to its bone.

The book sets a great example of everyday conflict in the lives of fishermen; how luck plays a pivotal role in their lives and their endless perseverance. We have collected 'The Old Man And The Sea' important quotes to help you see the world through the eyes of the fishing community.

You could also check out some great 'The Old Man and the Sea' marlin quotes, 'The Old Man and the Sea' shark quotes, quotation about old age and Ernest Hemmingway quotes among the quotes we've listed below.

If you enjoy this article, be sure to check out similar articles that you'll like sun as 'The Sun Also Rises' quotes and 'Moby Dick' quotes.

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Best 'The Old Man And The Sea' Quotes

Ernest Hemingway beautifully puts into words an old man's "must kill" attitude coupled with pride and his need to fish. Here is a compilation of the best 'Old Man And The Sea' quotes including some quotations about defeat.

1. "Why do old men wake so early? Is it to have one longer day?"

-Santiago.

2. "The moon affects her as it does a woman, he thought."

-Narrator.

3. "I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both."

-Santiago.

4. "Fish,...I’ll stay with you until I am dead."

-Santiago.

5. "He always thought of the sea as ‘la mar’ which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her."

-Narrator.

6. "If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?"

-Santiago.

7. "No one should be alone in their old age...but it is unavoidable."

-Santiago.

8. "My big fish must be somewhere."

-Santiago.

9. "Perhaps I should not have been a fisherman,...But that was the thing that I was born for."

-Santiago.

10. "Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends."

-Santiago.

11. "How do you feel, hand?...I’ll eat some more for you."

-Santiago.

12. "There has never been such a fish. Those were two fine fish you took yesterday too."

-Proprietor.

13. "Good luck old man."

-Manolin.

14. "First you borrow, then you beg."

-Santiago.

Some 'The Old Man And The Sea' Quotes About Courage

Ernest Hemingway's quotations about fishing bring to life the fate of fishermen and the fish, the fight for food, and the need to muster courage in the face of adversities. Read on the 'Old Man And The Sea' hero quotes we have collected for you.

15. "Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is."

-Santiago.

16. "But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated."

-Santiago.

17. "It's silly not to hope. It's a sin"

-Santiago.

18. "Then the fish came alive, with his death in him, and rose high out of the water showing all his great length and width and all his power and his beauty."

-Narrator.

19. "Let him think I am more man than I am and I will be so."

-Santiago.

20. "I told the boy I was a strange old man... now is when I must prove it."

-Santiago.

21. "I must never let him learn his strength nor what he could do if he made his run."

-Santiago.

22. "I may not be as strong as I think... but I know many tricks and I have resolution."

-Santiago.

23. "It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready."

-Santiago.

24. "My choice was to go there to find him beyond all people. Beyond all people in the world."

-Santiago.

25. "Remember we are in September."

-Manolin.

The 'Old Man And The Sea' Determination Quotes

Santiago is the image of determination in the book. Read the quotes listed below that highlight the old man's resolution and resilience.

26. "I must not think nonsense, he thought. Luck is a thing that comes in many forms and who can recognize her?"

-Narrator.

27. "Every day is a new day."

-Santiago.

28. "If he doesn’t maybe he will come up with the moon. If he does not do that maybe he will come up with the sunrise."

-Santiago.

29. "His hope and his confidence had never gone. But now they were freshening as when the breeze rises."

-Narrator.

30. "Tomorrow is going to be a good day with this current"

-Santiago.

31. "Yes you are,...You’re good for ever."

-Santiago.

Some Famous Hemingway Quotes From The Book

Here are some more famous and iconic quotes from the brilliant book by Ernest Hemingway. You might find you recognize a few of them.

32. "He rested sitting on the un-stepped mast and sail and tried not to think but only to endure."

-Narrator.

33. "Each time was a new time and he never thought about the past when he was doing it."

-Narrator.

34. "...and with his eyes closed there was no life in his face."

-Narrator.

35. "I would like to take the great DiMaggio fishing,"

-Manolin.

36. "I’m being towed by a fish and I’m the towing bitt."

-Santiago.

37. "Qua Va, It is what a man must do."

-Manolin.

38. "Keep your head clear and know how to suffer like a man."

-Santiago.

39. "Why did they make birds so delicate and fine as those sea swallows when the ocean can be so cruel?"

-Santiago.

40. "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you."

-Manolin.

41. "He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride."

-Narrator.

42. "He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen."

-Narrator.

43. "Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?"

-Santiago.

44. "The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him."

-Narrator.

45. "But I must kill him. I am glad we do not have to try to kill the stars."

-Santiago.

46. "There is no one worthy of eating him from the manner of his behaviour and his great dignity."

-Santiago.

47. "Imagine if each day a man must try to kill the moon"

-Santiago.

48. "Pain does not matter to a man."

-Santiago.

49. "Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother."

-Santiago.

50. "It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars."

-Santiago.

51. "You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food"

-Santiago.

52. "He is a great fish and I must convince him"

-Santiago.

53. "I'll kill him though,...in all his greatness and his glory."

-Santiago.

54. "Perhaps it was a sin to kill the fish"

-Santiago.

55. "Dentuso, he thought. Bad luck to your mother."

-Santiago.

56. "The boy saw that the old man was breathing and then he saw the old man’s hands and he started to cry."

-Narrator.

57. "Now we are joined together and have been since noon."

-Santiago.

58. "I must eat the tuna so that I will not have a failure of strength."

-Santiago.

59. "He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women...nor of great fish ...He only dreamed of places now"

-Narrator.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'The Old Man And The Sea' quotes then why not take a look at Herman Melville quotes, or Raymond Chandler quotes.