The Old Man and the Sea Strength and Skill Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Day.Paragraph). We artificially created chapters by defining "days," because there are no chapter breaks in The Old Man and the Sea. Here’s how we divided up the days:
  • Day 1 = the start of the book until the old man falls asleep for the night
  • Day 2 = begins when the old man wakes up and goes until sunrise of the next day
  • Day 3 = begins at sunrise and goes until the old man dreams about the lions
  • Day 4 = begins when the old man wakes and ends when the old man gets back to his shack for the night
  • Day 5 = begins with the boy seeing the old man in the morning and goes until the end of the book

Quote #4

"He was a great manager," the boy said. "My father thinks he was the greatest." "Because he came here the most times," the old man said. "If Durocher had continued to come here each year your father would think him the greatest manager." (1.130, 1.131)

Greatness and prowess are subjective qualities in The Old Man and the Sea.

Quote #5

"Who is the greatest manager, really, Luque or Mike Gonzalez?"

"I think they are equal."

"And the best fisherman is you." (1.132-1.134)

The boy believes the old man’s prowess to be as great as that of the baseball players and managers he admires.

Quote #6

"I may not be as strong as I think," the old man said. "But I know many tricks and I have resolution." (1.139)

The old man relies on skill rather than brute strength.