“Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up.”
- 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
“Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up.”
Explanation
In this humorous quote, Hemingway reflects on the physical and mental demands of writing and travel. The first part of the quote, “Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind,” is a playful acknowledgment of the physical toll these activities can take—writing requires long hours of sitting, and travel often involves a sedentary lifestyle as well. The phrase “broaden your ass” is a witty, self-deprecating remark about the physical cost of these pursuits. At the same time, he jokes that while they may not always broaden the mind, they still expand one’s physical presence. This comment reflects Hemingway’s characteristic humor, often laced with a sense of irony and self-awareness.
The second part of the quote, “I like to write standing up,” speaks to Hemingway’s own writing habits and preference for an active, dynamic approach to the creative process. It suggests that he did not just engage with writing in a passive, conventional way; instead, he likely preferred a posture that kept him alert and engaged. Hemingway was known for his nontraditional approach to writing and daily routines, and this preference for standing while writing reflects his desire to stay physically and mentally active as part of his creative process.
In the modern context, this quote can be seen as a reminder that creativity is a deeply personal and physical endeavor, and that each writer or creator develops their own rhythms and methods for working. Some might prefer to sit for hours, while others, like Hemingway, might stand or move around. It also speaks to the discomforts and compromises that often come with the creative process, as writers and artists navigate both the physical and mental strains of their work. The quote serves as a humorous reminder that writing and travel—though they may have broad benefits—also come with their own set of physical challenges, and that the creative process is often a balance between both mental and physical exertion.
