Hemingway hated me. I sold 200 million books, and he didn't. Of course most of mine sold for 25 cents, but still... you look at all this stuff with a grain of salt.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Spillane notes his higher sales volume compared to Hemingway but acknowledges the difference in price points, suggesting a measured view of success.
- In plain terms
- He sold more books but for less money, so he takes his success with a grain of salt.
- What can you take from it?
- Commercial success does not always equal artistic prestige.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does sales volume define a writer's worth?
- How do price points affect perceived value?
Another view
Sales figures may not fully capture cultural impact or longevity.
More from Mickey Spillane
I know an awful lot of Hollywood people, who are so self-important, I can't understand it. My father was a good Irish saloon-keeper, my mother always said to h…
Permalink to quote #46 Hemingway hated me. I outsell him and he was steamed. One day he wrote a story for Bluebook berating me. So I'm going on a big TV show in Chicago and I don't g…
Permalink to quote #48 I was one of the first guys writing comic books, I wrote Captain America, with guys like Stan Lee, who became famous later on with Marvel Comics. Stan could wr…
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