But when you get the damned hurt use it — don't cheat with it.
Meaning
Hemingway wrote this in a letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald, advising him as a writer about how to treat painful experience. Pain can fuel honest work if you face it rather than dodge it. After a hard season, try writing or talking about it truthfully and use what you learn.
Source: Letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald, quoted in Scott Fitzgerald by Andrew Turnbull (1962)
About the author
(1899–1961) was an American writer known for his concise and powerful prose style. His works, including "The Old Man and the Sea" and "A Farewell to Arms," explore themes of courage, loss, and human resilience. Hemingway’s writing is characterized by simplicity and understatement, often referred to as the ‘iceberg theory.’ He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. His experiences as a journalist and war correspondent influenced much of his work. Ernest Hemingway’s legacy continues to shape modern literature and storytelling techniques.
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