--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now standing in one corner of a boxing…" description: "\"“Now standing in one corner of a boxing ring with a .22 caliber Colt automatic pistol, shooting a bullet weighing only 40 grains and with a striking en..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/ernest-hemingway-83_boxing-ring_now-standing-in-one-corner-of-a-boxing-r_3211705.jpg" --- # Now standing in one corner of a boxing ring with a .22… ![“Now standing in one corner of a boxing ring with a .22 caliber Colt automatic pistol, shooting a bullet weighing only 40 grains and with a striking energy of 51 foot pounds at 25 feet from the muzzle, I will guarantee to kill either Gene Tunney or Joe Louis before they get to me from the opposite…” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/ernest-hemingway-83_boxing-ring_now-standing-in-one-corner-of-a-boxing-r_3211705.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/ernest-hemingway-83_boxing-ring_now-standing-in-one-corner-of-a-boxing-r_3211705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/ernest-hemingway-83_boxing-ring_now-standing-in-one-corner-of-a-boxing-r_3211705.jpg) > ““Now standing in one corner of a boxing ring with a .22 caliber Colt automatic pistol, shooting a bullet weighing only 40 grains and with a striking energy of 51 foot pounds at 25 feet from the muzzle, I will guarantee to kill either Gene Tunney or Joe Louis before they get to me from the opposite corner. This is the smallest caliber pistol cartridge made; but it is also one of the most accurate and easy to hit with, since the pistol has no recoil. I have killed many horses with it, cripples and bear baits, with a single shot, and what will kill a horse will kill a man. I have hit six dueling silhouettes in the head with it at regulation distance in five seconds. It was this type of pistol that Millen boys’ colleague, Abe Faber, did all his killings with. Yet this same pistol bullet fired at point blank range will not dent a grizzly’s skull, and to shoot a grizzly with a .22 caliber pistol would simply be one way of committing suicide”” [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A speaker boasts about a tiny, accurate pistol, claiming it can kill top boxers and animals, yet admits it’s useless against a grizzly, highlighting limits of power. **In simple terms:** A small gun can seem mighty but has clear limits. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of seemingly powerful tools. Themes power limitations confidence danger overconfidence Mood cautious reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - boxing match - self‑defense - hunting - survival scenarios - military training Key Concepts ballistics weaponry human hubris comparative strength Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess true capability versus perceived power? - When might overconfidence become dangerous? A Different Perspective The claim exaggerates capability; real‑world effectiveness varies with target and context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxing ring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing-ring/) [Committing suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committing-suicide/) [Firearms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firearms/) [Pistols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pistols/) ## Related quotes > [“The rifle and the pistol are still the equalizer when one man is more of a man than another, and if…he is really smart…he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-rifle-and-the-pistol-are-still-the-equalizer-when-one-man-is-more/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [You can't see a pistol bullet and you can't see a M14 bullet. One is traveling at 800 feet per second, the other is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owsley-stanley/you-can-t-see-a-pistol-bullet-and-you-can-t-see-a-m14-bullet-one-is/) [Owsley Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owsley-stanley/) > [“He looked down, aimed his father’s old H&R 22-caliber revolver, and took another shot, this time in the head. The boy on the ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayven-t-hill/he-looked-down-aimed-his-father-s-old-h-r-22-caliber-revolver-and-2/) [Rayven T. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rayven-t-hill/) > [“He looked down, aimed his father’s old H&R 22-caliber revolver and took another shot, this time in the head. The boy on the ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayven-t-hill/he-looked-down-aimed-his-father-s-old-h-r-22-caliber-revolver-and/) [Rayven T. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rayven-t-hill/) > [We who have seen him now, light on his feet, smooth moving as a leopard, a young man with an old man's science, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-who-have-seen-him-now-light-on-his-feet-smooth-moving-as-a-leopard/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-am-the-astronaut-of-boxing-joe-louis-and-dempsey-were-just-jet/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“I think you’re born with the ability to hit. Rocky Marciano didn’t start boxing until after the war when he was already twenty-six, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/i-think-you-re-born-with-the-ability-to-hit-rocky-marciano-didn-t/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [Joe Louis was one of my closest friends… I'm a great boxing fan. I used to go to the American Legion Stadium in Hollywood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/joe-louis-was-one-of-my-closest-friends-i-m-a-great-boxing-fan-i-used/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I define fear as standing across the ring from Joe Louis and knowing he wants to go home early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-baer/i-define-fear-as-standing-across-the-ring-from-joe-louis-and-knowing/) Max Baer > [All the champions - you go and ask Mike Tyson or Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Lennox Lewis and myself included, and I'm sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/all-the-champions-you-go-and-ask-mike-tyson-or-joe-louis-rocky/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [Every time I hear the name Joe Louis my nose starts to bleed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-farr/every-time-i-hear-the-name-joe-louis-my-nose-starts-to-bleed/) Tommy Farr > [Joe Louis is a credit to his race - the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cannon/joe-louis-is-a-credit-to-his-race-the-human-race/) [Jimmy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cannon/) > [I used to tease Joe Louis by reminding him that I was the greatest of all time. But Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-used-to-tease-joe-louis-by-reminding-him-that-i-was-the-greatest-of/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Joe Louis and I were the first modern national sports figures who were black... But neither of us could do national advertising because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/joe-louis-and-i-were-the-first-modern-national-sports-figures-who/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-joe-louis-could-take-the-punches-today-fighting-in-this/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Explore all 1,464 Ernest Hemingway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More Boxing ring quotes > [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [Unlike most sports playing fields, a boxing ring is a temporary structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hauser/unlike-most-sports-playing-fields-a-boxing-ring-is-a-temporary/) [Thomas Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hauser/) > [“Let’s face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lederer/let-s-face-it-english-is-a-crazy-language-there-is-no-egg-in-eggplant/) [Richard Lederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lederer/) > [All of my life had been spent in the shadow of apartheid. And when South Africa went through its extraordinary change in 1994, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/all-of-my-life-had-been-spent-in-the-shadow-of-apartheid-and-when/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [Sometimes, there's a fine line between bravery and utter stupidity. The day I decided to climb into a boxing ring for a professional fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-flintoff/sometimes-there-s-a-fine-line-between-bravery-and-utter-stupidity-the/) [Andrew Flintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-flintoff/) > [“what's the use of overcoming opponent after opponent in the wrestling or boxing rings if you can be overcome by your temper?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-annaeus-seneca/what-s-the-use-of-overcoming-opponent-after-opponent-in-the-wrestling/) [Lucius Annaeus Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-annaeus-seneca/) > [I was slamming shots and partying when most boys my age were building forts and playing with trains. I still go to extremes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-osbourne/i-was-slamming-shots-and-partying-when-most-boys-my-age-were-building/) [Jack Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-osbourne/) > [“But what is philosophy? Doesn’t it simply mean preparing ourselves for what may come? Don’t you understand that really amounts to saying that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/but-what-is-philosophy-doesn-t-it-simply-mean-preparing-ourselves-for/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [ “\[W\]hat is the world but a boxing ring where fools and devils put up their fists?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/w-hat-is-the-world-but-a-boxing-ring-where-fools-and-devils-put-up/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I think going in a boxing ring with Conor would be great, or in MMA... No ill will towards the guy but I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/i-think-going-in-a-boxing-ring-with-conor-would-be-great-or-in-mma-no/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [Any UFC fighter, and any fighter going into the boxing ring and can do what they do in the UFC, nine out of 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/any-ufc-fighter-and-any-fighter-going-into-the-boxing-ring-and-can-do/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [I worked in this club in Mansfield, Ohio, called the Ringside. The stage was just like a boxing ring with the four posts, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soupy-sales/i-worked-in-this-club-in-mansfield-ohio-called-the-ringside-the-stage/) [Soupy Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soupy-sales/) > [I want to make sure that when I step into the boxing ring it's an even playing field because I work extremely hard with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrius-andrade/i-want-to-make-sure-that-when-i-step-into-the-boxing-ring-it-s-an/) [Demetrius Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrius-andrade/) > [I run on the road long before I dance under the lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-run-on-the-road-long-before-i-dance-under-the-lights/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Life is similar to a boxing ring, you are declared a loser not when you fall but when you refuse to stand up...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-similar-to-a-boxing-ring-you-are-declared-a-loser-not-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 47 Boxing ring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing-ring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Now standing in one corner of a boxing ring with a .22 caliber Colt automatic pistol, shooting a bullet weighing only 40 grains and with a striking energy of 51 foot pounds at 25 feet from the muzzle, I will guarantee to kill either Gene Tunney or Joe Louis before they get to me from the opposite corner. This is the smallest caliber pistol cartridge made; but it is also one of the most accurate and easy to hit with, since the pistol has no recoil. I have killed many horses with it, cripples and bear baits, with a single shot, and what will kill a horse will kill a man. I have hit six dueling silhouettes in the head with it at regulation distance in five seconds. It was this type of pistol that Millen boys’ colleague, Abe Faber, did all his killings with. 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