The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

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.

But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them.

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

“The fish is my friend too,” he said aloud. “I have never seen or heard of such a fish. But I must kill him. I am glad we do not have to try to kill the stars.”

I am not good for many more turns. Yes you are, he told himself. You’re good for ever.

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

It is silly not to hope, he thought. Besides I believe it is a sin. Do not think about sin, he thought. There are enough problems now without sin. Also I have no understanding of it.

If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?