Ernest Hemingway

Novelist, journalist

Modern influential 89 sayings

Sayings by Ernest Hemingway

The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.

1929 — From 'A Farewell to Arms'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

There is no friend as loyal as a book.

1930s-1940s — Attributed, often quoted
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A man can be destroyed but not defeated.

1952 — From 'The Old Man and the Sea'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

1986 (posthumous) — From 'The Garden of Eden'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The first draft of anything is shit.

1930s-1950s — Attributed, often quoted in writing circles
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.

1964 (posthumous) — From 'A Moveable Feast'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

1950s — Attributed, often quoted philosophical thought
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

1930s-1950s — Attributed, often quoted
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Write drunk, edit sober.

1930s-1950s — Attributed, widely known advice to writers
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.

1950s — Attributed, often quoted
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.

1950s — Attributed, often quoted
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I drink to make other people more interesting.

1930s-1950s — Attributed, often quoted
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

All my life I've looked at words as though I were seeing them for the first time.

1950s — Attributed, philosophical thought on writing
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you are a lucky man to remember it.

1929 — From 'A Farewell to Arms'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The most painful thing is to lose yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.

1950s — Attributed, often quoted on relationships
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.

1936 — From 'On the Blue Water: A Key West Letter'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I still believe that man's highest purpose is to become a man.

1950s — Attributed, philosophical thought
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.

1950s — Attributed, often quoted
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.

1950s — Attributed, often quoted on writing/life
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Nobody lives forever, but we can live well enough and long enough to be a damn good example.

1950s — Attributed, philosophical thought
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable