The Old Man and the Sea Quotes

Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.

But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated.

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

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

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

I may not be as stong as I think, but I know many tricks and I have resolution.

Most people were heartless about turtles because a turtle’s heart will beat for hours after it has been cut up and butchered. But the old man thought, I have such a heart too.

It's silly not to hope. It's a sin he thought.

If the others heard me talking out loud they would think that I am crazy. But since I am not, I do not care.

It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers.

Luck is a thing that comes in many forms and who can recognize her?

Fish," he said softly, aloud, "I'll stay with you until I am dead.

You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?

No one should be alone in their old age, he thought.

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

And bed, he thought. Bed is my friend. Just bed, he thought. Bed will be a great thing. It is easy when you are beaten, he thought. I never knew how easy it was. And what beat you, the thought.

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

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

Do not think about sin, he thought. There are enough problems now without sin. Also I have no understanding of it.

I hate a cramp, he thought. It is a treachery of one's own body.

Take a good rest, small bird," he said. "Then go in and take your chance like any man or bird or fish.

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

Up the road, in his shack, the old man was sleeping again. He was still sleeping on his face and the boy was sitting by him watching him. The old man was dreaming about the lions.

But, he thought, I keep them with precision. Only I have no luck anymore. But who knows? Maybe today. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.

Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.

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

Be patient, hand," he said. "I do this for you.

Only I have no luck any more. But who knows? Maybe today. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.

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

Man is not made for defeat.

Now he was proving it again. Each time was a new time and he never thought about the past when he was doing it.

The clouds were building up now for the trade wind and he looked ahead and saw a flight of wild ducks etching themselves against the sky over the water, then blurring, then etching again and he knew no man was ever alone on the sea.

Fish," the old man said. "Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?

She is kind and very beautiful. But she can be so cruel and it comes so suddenly and such birds that fly, dipping and hunting, with their small sad voices are made too delicately for the sea.

Pain does not matter to a man.

His choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares and traps and treacheries. My choice was to go there to find him beyond all people. Beyond all people in the world. Now we are joined together and have been since noon. And no one to help either one of us.

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.

I think perhaps I can too.But I try not to borrow. First you borrow. Then you beg.

But, thank God, [the fish] are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able.

I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this," he said. "Now that I have him coming so beautifully, God help me endure. I'll say a hundred Our Fathers and a hundred Hail Marys. But I cannot say them now."Consider them said, he thought. I'll say them later.

The old man opened his eyes and for a moment he was coming back from a long way away. Then he smiled.

Hail Mary full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.' Then he added, 'Blessed Virgin, pray for the death of this fish wonderful though he is.

You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?

I wonder if he has any plans or if he is just as desperate as I am?

The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, confident loving eyes.

What kind of a hand is that,' he said. 'Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.

He is a great fish and I must convince him, he thought. I must never let him learn his strength nor what he could do if he made his run.

I wish it had been a dream now and that I had never hooked the fish and was alone in bed on the newspapers.

Fight them, he said. I’ll fight them until I die.

Half fish," he said. "Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both. But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others. How many did you ever kill, old fish? You do not have that spear on your head for nothing.