“From things that have happened and from things as they exist and from all things that you know and all those you cannot know, you make something through your invention that is not a representation but a whole new thing truer than anything true and alive, and you make it alive, and if you make it well enough, you give it immortality.”
- July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961
- American
- Novelist, poet, journalist
- Wrote masterpieces such as “The Old Man and the Sea,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954
Quote
“From things that have happened and from things as they exist and from all things that you know and all those you cannot know, you make something through your invention that is not a representation but a whole new thing truer than anything true and alive, and you make it alive, and if you make it well enough, you give it immortality.”
Explanation
In this quote, Hemingway reflects on the creative process of writing and art. He suggests that a writer or artist takes real-life experiences, knowledge, and even the unknown, and through their imagination, creates something that goes beyond simple representation. What the artist produces is not a mere copy of reality, but a new creation that feels more true and alive than the original sources of inspiration. This creation has the potential to transcend time, becoming immortal if crafted with enough skill and authenticity. Hemingway implies that the ultimate goal of art is to capture the essence of life—its complexities, its truths—and transform them into something that resonates with the universal human experience, making the work not just relevant to its time but enduring beyond it.
Hemingway himself was a master of this process, especially in his novelistic approach. His ability to transform his personal experiences (such as his time in World War I, his travels, and his observations of human nature) into fiction that felt simultaneously universal and timeless was a key reason for his lasting impact. His works, like A Farewell to Arms and The Old Man and the Sea, are not simply stories of individuals and events, but rather timeless reflections on the human condition—capturing deeper truths and emotions. Through his distinctive writing style, Hemingway created characters and narratives that transcend their immediate context, achieving the immortality he speaks of in the quote.
In modern times, this quote speaks to the power of art in its ability to capture universal truths and convey experiences that resonate across time and culture. Writers, filmmakers, musicians, and artists all engage in this process of transformation, taking elements from the world around them and reshaping them into something new that speaks to the human spirit. Whether it’s through literature, visual art, or film, the creation of something “truer than anything true and alive” allows art to have lasting influence. The key takeaway is that, through invention and creativity, artists have the potential to create works that not only represent reality but offer a deeper truth, giving those works a kind of immortality that continues to inspire and engage future generations.
