Mickey Spillane Quotes

Powerful Mickey Spillane for Daily Growth

About Mickey Spillane

Mickey Spillane, born Michael Anthony Spillane Jr. on March 10, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York, was a prominent American author best known for his hard-boiled detective Mike Hammer series. Growing up during the Great Depression, Spillane experienced poverty and violence, influences that permeated his gritty and visceral crime fiction. After dropping out of high school at 16, Spillane worked various jobs, including as a shipbuilder in Maryland and a soda jerk in North Carolina. It wasn't until World War II that he found success, when he became a cartographer for the U.S. Army Air Forces, which allowed him the time to write his first novel, 'I, the Jury', published in 1947. The book introduced the iconic character, Mike Hammer, a tough-as-nails private investigator who became a symbol of post-war American masculinity. Spillane's work was heavily influenced by pulp fiction authors like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. However, he differentiated himself by infusing his stories with more violence and raw emotion, making Mike Hammer a character that resonated deeply with readers. His prolific writing led to the publication of over 25 novels in the Mike Hammer series, as well as numerous short stories. Spillane's later life was marked by controversies, including a ban from the Mystery Writers of America for alleged plagiarism and his outspoken right-wing political views. Despite these controversies, Spillane remained a significant figure in American literature, influencing generations of crime writers with his raw, visceral storytelling and enduring character, Mike Hammer. He passed away on July 17, 2006, leaving behind an indelible mark on the genre of detective fiction.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Violence is not the answer, but when you face a loading gun and an out-of-control elephant, it becomes the better question."

This quote by Mickey Spillane implies that in certain extreme situations where non-violent resolutions are impossible (like facing a dangerous, uncontrollable threat), violence may be justified as a last resort to ensure survival or maintain peace. However, the ideal state is still to avoid violence whenever possible. The "loading gun and an out-of-control elephant" metaphor suggests that sometimes the threats we face are so immense, violent responses become the more reasonable choice amidst chaos, even though it's not the preferred solution in normal circumstances.

"I'm a writer who makes his living at the typewriter. I have to write."

This quote emphasizes that Mickey Spillane, a prolific author, considers himself primarily as a working writer. His identity is tied to his craft - the typewriter. Writing isn't just a hobby or pastime for him; it's a means of livelihood. He has an inherent necessity to write, suggesting a strong sense of passion and dedication to his profession. The quote also underscores his discipline and commitment to his writing routine as a requirement for earning a living.

"The best way to learn about anything is from the ground up... Start in the bottom of a hole and climb out."

This quote emphasizes the importance of learning through practical, hands-on experience and overcoming challenges. The idea is that starting from humble beginnings (the "bottom of a hole") and working our way up, we gain valuable knowledge and skills along the journey as we face and conquer obstacles. This perspective encourages resilience, perseverance, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. In essence, it advocates for learning through doing and experiencing life's challenges to grow and succeed.

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain."

Mickey Spillane's quote emphasizes the importance of resilience and finding joy even amidst life's challenges, rather than passively awaiting them to end. In essence, it suggests that instead of waiting for problems or difficulties to go away, we should learn to adapt, find solutions, and appreciate the moments in our lives, just as one dances in the rain – embracing and making the best of a situation. This perspective encourages a proactive approach towards life's challenges and fosters an attitude of optimism and determination.

"Once you get an idea, hold on to it and don't let go until it's dead or you are."

Mickey Spillane's quote suggests a determination and perseverance in pursuing one's ideas. He encourages holding onto an idea with tenacity, refusing to let it go until it either achieves fruition or proves unfeasible. This mindset embodies the spirit of not giving up easily, staying committed, and believing in one's vision until its potential is exhausted. In other words, think big, pursue relentlessly, and never back down from a good idea.

If you're a singer you lose your voice. A baseball player loses his arm. A writer gets more knowledge, and if he's good, the older he gets, the better he writes.

- Mickey Spillane

Voice, Singer, More, Baseball Player

I started off at the high level, in the slick magazines, but they didn't use my name, they used house names. Anyway, then I went downhill to the pulps, then downhill further to the comics.

- Mickey Spillane

Level, Use, High Level, Downhill

I know an awful lot of Hollywood people, who are so self-important, I can't understand it.

- Mickey Spillane

Hollywood, Awful Lot, Hollywood People

Oh yeah, 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.

- Mickey Spillane

Famous, Comic Books, Became, Stan

Imagine this guy hits Mike Hammer over the head with a wooden coathanger and knocks him out. You hit Mike Hammer over the head with a wooden coathanger, he'll beat the crap out of you.

- Mickey Spillane

Hammer, Over, Imagine, Wooden

I'm a country boy. I hate New York. But that's where things happen, so I use it as a base for stories, I know enough about it. But I have to keep going back there.

- Mickey Spillane

Country, Use, About, Base

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.

- Mickey Spillane

Still, Mine, Sold, Grain

Authors want their names down in history; I want to keep the smoke coming out of the chimney.

- Mickey Spillane

Want, Names, Chimney, Authors

I'm a commercial writer, not an author. Margaret Mitchell was an author. She wrote one book.

- Mickey Spillane

She, Commercial, One Book, Margaret

I'm 82 years old, wherever I go everybody knows me, but here's why... I'm a merchandiser, I'm not just a writer, I stay in every avenue you can think of.

- Mickey Spillane

Think, Here, Everybody, Wherever

My father was Catholic, my mother was Protestant, and because of that I got Christened in both churches, so I've got all these names... but my Dad always called me Mick.

- Mickey Spillane

Father, Always, Dad, Catholic

Where I am they can smell out a hurricane. My house survived Hurricane Hazel, but it didn't get past Hugo.

- Mickey Spillane

Past, Hurricane, Hugo, Survived

Victor Saville was bad news because he wanted money just to do one big picture.

- Mickey Spillane

News, Big, Bad, Victor

See, heroes never die. John Wayne isn't dead, Elvis isn't dead. Otherwise you don't have a hero. You can't kill a hero. That's why I never let him get older.

- Mickey Spillane

Die, John Wayne, Otherwise, Wayne

Critics themselves, they used to tear me up.

- Mickey Spillane

Me, Critics, Themselves, Tear

I wrote the original Mike Hammer as a comic, Mike Danger.

- Mickey Spillane

Original, Hammer, Mike, Comic

I played in a movie called Ring of Fear with Clyde Beatty and Pat O'Brien.

- Mickey Spillane

Ring, Movie, Pat, Beatty

If the public likes you, you're good.

- Mickey Spillane

Good, You, Public, Likes

Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it's a letdown, they won't buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book.

- Mickey Spillane

Middle, Next, Read, Anymore

Now I'm not an author, I'm a writer, that's all I am.

- Mickey Spillane

I Am, Now, Writer, Author

I try to stay in good physical shape, I don't smoke, I don't drink.

- Mickey Spillane

Try, Smoke, Shape, Drink

If I need something, I'll invent it.

- Mickey Spillane

Need, Something, Invent

Stephen King. Now I'm not crazy about him, but he's a great a writer.

- Mickey Spillane

King, Now, About, None

I read all the time... I read a lot of history books.

- Mickey Spillane

Books, Lot, Read, History Books

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