Quote 103
Then he began to pity the great fish that he had hooked. He is wonderful and strange and who knows how old he is, he thought. Never have I had such a strong fish nor one who acted so strangely. Perhaps he is too wise to jump. He could ruin me by jumping or by a wild rush. But perhaps he has been hooked many times before and he knows that this is how he should make his fight. He cannot know that it is only one man against him, nor that it is an old man. But what a great fish he is and what will he bring in the market if the flesh is good. He took the bait like a male and he pulls like a male and his fight has no panic in it. I wonder if he has any plans or if he is just as desperate as I am? (2.91)
The old man pays respect to the fish in seeing similarities between the fish and himself.
Quote 104
"Fish," he said, "I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends." (3.8)
Although he respects the fish, the old man’s determination reflects his belief that his purpose in life is to be a fisherman, and that this comes first.
Quote 105
He is a great fish and I must convince him, he thought. I must never let him learn his strength nor what he could do if he made his run. If I were him I would put in everything now and go until something broke. But, thank God, they are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able. (3.61)
It is interesting that the old man identifies a "nobility" in the fish he kills. In what way is the old man not noble?