“Once writing has become your major vice and greatest pleasure, only death can stop it.”
- 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
“Once writing has become your major vice and greatest pleasure, only death can stop it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Hemingway highlights the deep compulsion and obsession that writing can become for a person once it has taken root in their life. By referring to writing as both a “major vice” and a “greatest pleasure,” he suggests that the act of writing is not simply a hobby or profession, but a driving force that occupies a significant and uncontrollable part of one’s existence. Writing becomes a necessity—both a source of immense joy and an addictive behavior. The phrase “only death can stop it” underscores how deeply embedded writing is in the writer’s identity, indicating that once a person has committed to the craft, it becomes an inseparable part of them, continuing until their final breath.
Hemingway himself was deeply immersed in the act of writing throughout his life. His works, like The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms, reflect a relentless dedication to capturing human experiences through his writing, regardless of the personal costs. For Hemingway, writing was both a lifeline and a burden, something that provided him immense satisfaction but also contributed to his inner turmoil. His struggles with mental health and personal conflicts were often channeled into his work, and his quote emphasizes the irresistible drive that many writers experience—the need to write, no matter the circumstances.
In today’s world, the quote can be applied to the addictive nature of creativity, especially in fields like writing, art, or even entrepreneurship, where people can become so engrossed in their work that it shapes their entire life. For many, writing, like other forms of creative expression, becomes an obsession that offers both great satisfaction and immense struggle. The modern writer, like Hemingway, might feel that the only way to continue living is to keep creating, finding meaning in the written word. This quote serves as a reminder of the fierce commitment that often drives creators to pursue their craft relentlessly, until, as Hemingway puts it, death itself halts their work.
