海明威諾貝爾獎致答辭

一九五四年十二月十日

他寫了一篇致答辭，央請美國駐瑞典大使 John M. Cabot 代為宣讀。後來他自己

親自錄音，請聽網路廣播     海明威諾貝爾獎致答辭 

　　全文（transcript）如下：（聽力默寫，測驗自己）

　　No writer who knows the great writers who did not receive the Prize 

can accept it other than with humility.  There is no need to list these writers. 

Everyone here may make his own list according to his knowledge and his 

conscience.  

        It would be impossible for me to ask the Ambassador of my 

country to read a speech in which a writer said all of the things which are in 

his heart. Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, 

and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and 

by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses he will endure or be 

forgotten.

　　 Writing at its best is a lonely life. 

　　Organizations for writers palliate the writer's loneliness, but I doubt 

if they improve his writing.  He grows in public stature as he sheds his 

loneliness  and  often his work deteriorates.  For he does his work alone, 

and if he is a good enough writer,  he  must  face eternity or the lack of it 

each day.

　　For a true writer,  each book should be a new beginning where he tries 

again for something  that is beyond attainment.   He should always try for 

something that has never been done or  that others have tried and failed. 

Then sometimes, with good luck, he will succeed.

　　How simple the writing of literature would be if it were only necessary 

to write in another way what has been well written.   It is because we have had

such great writers in the past  that a writer is driven far out past where he can go, 

out to where no one can help him.

        I have spoken too long for a writer.  A writer should write what he has to 

say and not speak it.  Again  I  thank  you.

　　I

　　（錄音第二部分是海明威朗誦其劇本《第五縱隊》（The  Fifth  Column ））