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100 Top Quotes By John Steinbeck, The Author Of East Of Eden

Famous As: American Writer and Winner of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature
Born On: February 27, 1902
Died On: December 20, 1968
Born In: Salinas, California, United States
Died At Age: 66

They say, it is very easy to make people cry but very difficult to make them smile. There have been abundant of writers who have made their readers emotional with their content but only a handful who have chuckled the deepest and hidden laughter from within. And John Steinbeck is one amongst them. A master in his own rights, Steinbeck’s works is a part of the American literary cannon. His comic novels ‘Tortilla Flat’, ‘Cannery Row’, ‘East of Eden’, ‘Mice and Men’ and ‘The Red Pony’ are considered legendary work in comic fiction today. Though Steinbeck gained popularity in most of his works, his best bit or the magnum opus of his career came with the novel, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. It earned him the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. In his lifetime, John Steinbeck wrote more than twenty-seven books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books, and five collections of short stories. In 1962, Steinbeck was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature. Over the years, he earned the reputation of ‘a giant of American letters’. His works are widely read abroad and many of his works are considered classics of Western literature. Just as his works that frequently explored the themes of fate and injustice, the same is seen in his quotes that stress a lot on life values and social themes. Explore this section and find out some of the best quotes by John Steinbeck.

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I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen.

I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen.

John Steinbeck
Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.

Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.

John Steinbeck
There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do.

There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do.

John Steinbeck
I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.

I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.

John Steinbeck
All great and precious things are lonely.

All great and precious things are lonely.

John Steinbeck
I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's
why.

I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why.

John Steinbeck
It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.

It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.

John Steinbeck
And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.

And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.

John Steinbeck
All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal.

All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal.

John Steinbeck
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

John Steinbeck
And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.

And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.

John Steinbeck
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

John Steinbeck
I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.

I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.

John Steinbeck
Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.

Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.

John Steinbeck
I guess there are never enough books.

I guess there are never enough books.

John Steinbeck
There's more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty.

There's more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty.

John Steinbeck
When two people meet, each one is changed by the other so you've got two new people.

When two people meet, each one is changed by the other so you've got two new people.

John Steinbeck
To be alive at all is to have scars.

To be alive at all is to have scars.

John Steinbeck
Anything that just costs money is cheap.

Anything that just costs money is cheap.

John Steinbeck
My imagination will get me a passport to hell one day.

My imagination will get me a passport to hell one day.

John Steinbeck
Do you take pride in your hurt? Does it make you seem large and tragic? ...Well, think about it. Maybe you're playing a part on a great stage with only yourself as audience.

Do you take pride in your hurt? Does it make you seem large and tragic? ...Well, think about it. Maybe you're playing a part on a great stage with only yourself as audience.

John Steinbeck
No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.

No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.

John Steinbeck
It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world.

It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world.

John Steinbeck
A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.

A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.

John Steinbeck
As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.

As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.

John Steinbeck
People like you to be something, preferably what they are.

People like you to be something, preferably what they are.

John Steinbeck
Sometimes a man wants to be stupid if it lets him do a thing his cleverness forbids.

Sometimes a man wants to be stupid if it lets him do a thing his cleverness forbids.

John Steinbeck
A man so painfully in love is capable of self-torture beyond belief.

A man so painfully in love is capable of self-torture beyond belief.

John Steinbeck
I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget it.

I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget it.

John Steinbeck
If you're in trouble, or hurt or need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.

If you're in trouble, or hurt or need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.

John Steinbeck
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.

Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.

John Steinbeck
Don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens - The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens - The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

John Steinbeck
It would be absurd if we did not understand both angels and devils, since we invented them.

It would be absurd if we did not understand both angels and devils, since we invented them.

John Steinbeck
Can you honestly love a dishonest thing?

Can you honestly love a dishonest thing?

John Steinbeck
People who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves they don't dream at all.

People who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves they don't dream at all.

John Steinbeck
But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed - because 'Thou mayest.

But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed - because 'Thou mayest.

John Steinbeck
A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.

A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.

John Steinbeck
It was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials.

It was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials.

John Steinbeck
An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie. It takes great courage to back truth unacceptable to our times. There's a punishment for it, and it's usually crucifixion.

An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie. It takes great courage to back truth unacceptable to our times. There's a punishment for it, and it's usually crucifixion.

John Steinbeck
A man without words is a man without thought.

A man without words is a man without thought.

John Steinbeck
When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.

When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.

John Steinbeck
You know how advice is - you only want it if it agrees with what you wanted to do anyways.

You know how advice is - you only want it if it agrees with what you wanted to do anyways.

John Steinbeck
Perhaps the less we have, the more we are required to brag.

Perhaps the less we have, the more we are required to brag.

John Steinbeck
Don't make everyone know about your sadness.

Don't make everyone know about your sadness.

John Steinbeck
I am happy to report that in the war between reality and romance, reality is not the stronger.

I am happy to report that in the war between reality and romance, reality is not the stronger.

John Steinbeck
Perhaps it takes courage to raise children..

Perhaps it takes courage to raise children..

John Steinbeck
You're bound to get idears if you go thinkin' about stuff

You're bound to get idears if you go thinkin' about stuff

John Steinbeck
It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.

It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.

John Steinbeck
You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.

You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.

John Steinbeck
I wonder why progress looks so much like destruction.

I wonder why progress looks so much like destruction.

John Steinbeck
How can we live without our lives? How will we know it's us without our past?

How can we live without our lives? How will we know it's us without our past?

John Steinbeck
..it's awful not to be loved. It's the worst thing in the world...It makes you mean, and violent, and cruel.

..it's awful not to be loved. It's the worst thing in the world...It makes you mean, and violent, and cruel.

John Steinbeck
I guess I'm trying to say, Grab anything that goes by. It may not come around again.

I guess I'm trying to say, Grab anything that goes by. It may not come around again.

John Steinbeck
No one who is young is ever going to be old.

No one who is young is ever going to be old.

John Steinbeck
The quality of owning freezes you forever in

The quality of owning freezes you forever in "I," and cuts you off forever from the "we.

John Steinbeck
We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.

We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.

John Steinbeck
A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you
control it.

A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.

John Steinbeck
Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance.

Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance.

John Steinbeck
Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella.

Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella.

John Steinbeck
Intention, good or bad, is not enough.

Intention, good or bad, is not enough.

John Steinbeck
Maybe-- maybe love makes you suspicious and doubting. Is it true that when you love a woman you are never sure-- never sure of her because you aren't sure of yourself?

Maybe-- maybe love makes you suspicious and doubting. Is it true that when you love a woman you are never sure-- never sure of her because you aren't sure of yourself?

John Steinbeck
And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry years. It was always that way.

And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry years. It was always that way.

John Steinbeck
He never fell,
never slipped back,
never flew.

He never fell, never slipped back, never flew.

John Steinbeck
His ear heard more than what was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.

His ear heard more than what was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.

John Steinbeck
Death was a friend, and sleep was Death's brother.

Death was a friend, and sleep was Death's brother.

John Steinbeck
If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

John Steinbeck
Up ahead they's a thousan' lives we might live, but when it comes it'll on'y be one.

Up ahead they's a thousan' lives we might live, but when it comes it'll on'y be one.

John Steinbeck
I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.

I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.

John Steinbeck
Trouble with mice is you always kill 'em.

Trouble with mice is you always kill 'em.

John Steinbeck
So many old and lovely things are stored in the world's attic because we don't want them around us and we don't dare throw them out.

So many old and lovely things are stored in the world's attic because we don't want them around us and we don't dare throw them out.

John Steinbeck
Don't you love Jesus?' Well, I thought an' I thought an' finally I says, 'No, I don't know nobody name' Jesus. I know a bunch of stories, but I only love people.

Don't you love Jesus?' Well, I thought an' I thought an' finally I says, 'No, I don't know nobody name' Jesus. I know a bunch of stories, but I only love people.

John Steinbeck
Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man.

Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man.

John Steinbeck
It is one of the triumphs of the human that he can know a thing and still not believe it.

It is one of the triumphs of the human that he can know a thing and still not believe it.

John Steinbeck
How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other.

How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other.

John Steinbeck
I suppose our capacity for self-delusion is boundless.

I suppose our capacity for self-delusion is boundless.

John Steinbeck
Muscles aching to work, minds aching to create - this is man.

Muscles aching to work, minds aching to create - this is man.

John Steinbeck
There are as many worlds as there are kinds of days, and as an opal changes its colors and its fire to match the nature of a day, so do I.

There are as many worlds as there are kinds of days, and as an opal changes its colors and its fire to match the nature of a day, so do I.

John Steinbeck
We can shoot rockets into space but we can't cure anger or discontent.

We can shoot rockets into space but we can't cure anger or discontent.

John Steinbeck
Being at ease with himself put him at ease with the world.

Being at ease with himself put him at ease with the world.

John Steinbeck
It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.

It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.

John Steinbeck
What a frightening thing is the human, a mass of gauges and dials and registers, and we can only read a few and those perhaps not accurately.

What a frightening thing is the human, a mass of gauges and dials and registers, and we can only read a few and those perhaps not accurately.

John Steinbeck
I think I love you, Cal.

I think I love you, Cal." -Abra I'm not good." -Cal Because you're not good." -Abra

John Steinbeck
I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.

I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.

John Steinbeck
Farewell has a sweet sound of reluctance. Good-by is short and final, a word with teeth sharp to bite through the string that ties past to the future.

Farewell has a sweet sound of reluctance. Good-by is short and final, a word with teeth sharp to bite through the string that ties past to the future.

John Steinbeck
They're a dark people with a gift for suffering way past their deserving. It's said that without whiskey to soak and soften the world, they'd kill themselves. (Irish)

They're a dark people with a gift for suffering way past their deserving. It's said that without whiskey to soak and soften the world, they'd kill themselves. (Irish)

John Steinbeck
Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.

Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.

John Steinbeck
There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.

There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.

John Steinbeck
I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything.

I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything.

John Steinbeck
I'll want to hear,' Samuel said. 'I eat stories like grapes.

I'll want to hear,' Samuel said. 'I eat stories like grapes.

John Steinbeck
Thoughts are slow and deep and golden in the morning.

Thoughts are slow and deep and golden in the morning.

John Steinbeck
It is the hour of pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.

It is the hour of pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.

John Steinbeck
But you must give him some sign, some sign that you love him... or he'll never be a man. All his life he'll feel guilty and alone unless you release him.

But you must give him some sign, some sign that you love him... or he'll never be a man. All his life he'll feel guilty and alone unless you release him.

John Steinbeck
The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.

The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.

John Steinbeck
And, of course, people are interested only in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen.

And, of course, people are interested only in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen.

John Steinbeck
Our people are good people; our people are kind people. Pray God some day kind people won't all be poor.

Our people are good people; our people are kind people. Pray God some day kind people won't all be poor.

John Steinbeck
Somewhere in the world there is a defeat for everyone. Some are destroyed by defeat, and some made small and mean by victory. Greatness lives in one who triumphs equally over defeat and victory.

Somewhere in the world there is a defeat for everyone. Some are destroyed by defeat, and some made small and mean by victory. Greatness lives in one who triumphs equally over defeat and victory.

John Steinbeck
For the most part people are not curious except about themselves.

For the most part people are not curious except about themselves.

John Steinbeck
We know what we got, and we don't care whether you know it or not.

We know what we got, and we don't care whether you know it or not.

John Steinbeck
No story has power, nor will it last, unless we feel in ourselves that it is true and true of us.

No story has power, nor will it last, unless we feel in ourselves that it is true and true of us.

John Steinbeck
We could live offa the fatta the lan'.

We could live offa the fatta the lan'.

John Steinbeck