It’s Ernest Hemingway’s birthday! Known for his impact on 20th century American fiction, with novels such as The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms, the Illinois native is a name forever remembered by literature buffs around the world.
So, in celebration of his immense talent, we’ve gathered ten of Hemingway’s best quotes. Whether they be pulled directly from his stories or are about his own writing career, these lines represent just how outspoken the Nobel Prize winner was during his time. (Rest assured, we aren’t forgetting the part of him that many don’t know, but should acknowledge, because…wow).
“The first draft of anything is shit.” – Ernest Hemingway
“There isn’t always an explanation for everything.” – Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway
“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?” – Ernest Hemingway
“This was a big storm and he might as well enjoy it. It was ruining everything, but you might as well enjoy it.” – Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” – Ernest Hemingway
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
“As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.” – Ernest Hemingway
“In order to write about life first you must live it.” – Ernest Hemingway
“Luck is a thing that comes in many forms and who can recognize her?” – Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
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