Sterling Hayden was (reportedly) an actor, author, sailor, model, Marine and OSS (secret!) agent. He ran away to sea when he was 15 in 1931 and worked on yachts throughout the US, Cuba and skippered a schooner to Tahiti when he was just 22. He later became a model and leading man in Hollywood, touted by Paramount Pictures as "The Beautiful Blond Viking God". Bloody heck! After only two films he enlisted in the Marines and then became an OSS undercover agent running guns to Yugoslav partisans behind German lines in WWII, where he was awarded for his bravery.
I came across Sterling a while back via a quote of his which inspired a person whom I admire, kayaker, Steve Fisher (pictured above). When Steve was on one of his first full-on kayaking expeditions, he and his team mates were sat around a fire when one of them quoted Sterling Hayden. At this moment sat beside a river in Nepal, Steve knew what he was going to do for the rest of his life. Steve recalled from what I can tell a slightly modified version which I have reproduced below. What do you think?
"To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest...where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of pocket or bankruptcy of soul? "
I choose neither! I am pretty solid on the soul, now to work a bit more on the pocket part!
Glad you quote this – it’s one of my favourites and I used it in the first chapter of my first book as it sums it all up perfectly! And Hayden was quite the dude too – I’ve got a lot to do to tick off his full list of careers!
Al
Shoot! Busted! I have not read your books yet Al! Many a time my friend I have walked into Stanfords, picked them up and then…bought something else! Kidding! I keep meaning to get em. I have one of you books at least. Its a picture book which is about my level!
Yeh he was quite the man it seems. Actually that could be your new byline – “The Beautiful Blond Viking God – Al”
Cheers mate
My favourite saying:
Well, does it take more guts to twice traverse a staircase in a burning building, or to make a one-time leap into a volcano? Damned if I know, Kimosabe. All I know is when you’re making those kind of calls, you’re up in the high country.
-Samuel Harvey Graynamore
Dude, you know that is mine!