No ballyhoo

Papa gave two interviews in his life.

Plimpton got one of 'em ...

INTERVIEWER (Plimpton):
Is emotional stability necessary to write well? You told me once that you could only write well when you were in love. Could you expound on that a bit more?
HEMINGWAY:
What a question. But full marks for trying. You can write any time people will leave you alone and not interrupt you. Or rather you can if you will be ruthless enough about it. But the best writing is certainly when you are in love. If it is all the same to you I would rather not expound on that.

Read the entire transcript here.