Quote 31
He was stiff and sore now and his wounds and all of the strained parts of his body hurt with the cold of the night. I hope I do not have to fight again, he thought. I hope so much I do not have to fight again. (4.162)
The old man finally recognizes the enormity of his pain, but only once the fish is killed. This may be due to his pride in his battle with the fish.
Quote 32
"But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?"
"I think so. And there are many tricks." (1.48, 1.49)
The old man relies on skill rather than brute strength.
Quote 33
"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.