John Hersey Quotes

A collection of quotes by John Hersey.

John Hersey (1914-1993) was an American journalist and novelist known for his compelling works of non-fiction and fiction that brought attention to important historical events. He was born on June 17, 1914, in Tientsin, China, to missionary parents, but later moved to the United States.

Hersey graduated from Yale University in 1936 and began his writing career as a journalist. During World War II, he served as a war correspondent, covering events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. His firsthand experiences during the war heavily influenced his writing style and contributed to his keen eye for human perspective.

In 1946, Hersey achieved widespread acclaim with the publication of his book "Hiroshima," which chronicled the experiences of six survivors of the atomic bombing of the city. The book, based on extensive interviews and research, showcased Hersey's ability to humanize tragedies and shed light on their devastating consequences. "Hiroshima" became a bestseller and played a significant role in raising awareness about the horrors of nuclear warfare.

Throughout his career, Hersey continued to write both fiction and non-fiction books that addressed important social and historical issues. Some of his notable works include "The Wall," "The Child Buyer," and "A Bell for Adano," for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1945.

John Hersey's writing focused on telling stories that encouraged empathy and understanding among readers. He left a lasting impact on the literary world by sensitively portraying human experiences in the face of war, tragedy, and injustice.

All morning they watched for the plane which they thought wo

All morning they watched for the plane which they thought would be looking for them. They cursed war in general and PTs in particular. At about ten o'clock the hulk heaved a moist sigh and turned turtle.

John Hersey

Morning

What has kept the world safe from the bomb since 1945 has no

What has kept the world safe from the bomb since 1945 has not been deterrence, in the sense of fear of specific weapons, so much as it's been memory. The memory of what happened at Hiroshima.

John Hersey

War

It's a failure of national vision when you regard children a

It's a failure of national vision when you regard children as weapons, and talents as materials you can mine, assay, and fabricate for profit and defense.

John Hersey

Failure

Learning starts with failure the first failure is the beginn

Learning starts with failure the first failure is the beginning of education.

John Hersey

Failure