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John Steinbeck Quotes

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Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

John Steinbeck
Roots, America, Usa
Attributed in "A Short History of Progress" by Ronald Wright, Toronto: Anansi Press, (pp. 124), 2004.

...to find where you are going, you must know where you are.

John Steinbeck
Where You Are, Where You Are Going, Knows
John Steinbeck (1980). “Travels with Charley in Search of America”, p.80, Penguin

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

John Steinbeck
Believe, Triumph, Humans
John Steinbeck (1952). “East of Eden”

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

John Steinbeck
Freedom, I Hate You, Eden
John Steinbeck (2002). “East of Eden”, p.116, Penguin

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

John Steinbeck
Two, People, Changed
John Steinbeck (2008). “The Winter of Our Discontent”, p.77, Penguin

Only mediocrity escapes criticism.

John Steinbeck
Life, Criticism, Mediocrity
John Steinbeck (2001). “A Life in Letters”, p.1159, Penguin UK

To be alive at all is to have scars.

John Steinbeck
Alive, Scar
John Steinbeck (2008). “The Winter of Our Discontent”, p.101, Penguin

It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.

John Steinbeck
Love, Wisdom, Appreciation
John Steinbeck (1963). “The short novels of John Steinbeck: Tortilla Flat, The red pony, Of mice and men, The moon is down, Cannery Row, The pearl”

If you want to destroy a nation, give it too much - make it greedy, miserable and sick.

John Steinbeck
Simple, Giving, Sick

Books are the best friends you can have; they inform you, and entertain you, and they don't talk back.

John Steinbeck
Friendship, Book

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

John Steinbeck
Inspiring, Encouragement, I Hate You
John Steinbeck (2001). “Novels, 1942-1952”

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

John Steinbeck
Military, Fighting, Finding Yourself

There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

John Steinbeck
Kindness, Selfish, Mean
"Personal Quotes/ Biography". www.imdb.com.

If you understand each other you will be kind to each other.

John Steinbeck
Understanding Love, Be Kind, Travels With Charley
John Steinbeck (1994). “Of Mice and Men”, p.5, Penguin

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
Being Strong, Strong Women, Believe
John Steinbeck (2002). “East of Eden”, p.314, Penguin

I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments

John Steinbeck
Hate, Government, Long
John Steinbeck (1980). “Travels with Charley in Search of America”, p.51, Penguin

And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.

John Steinbeck
Inspirational, Freedom, Believe
John Steinbeck (2002). “East of Eden”, p.116, Penguin

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

John Steinbeck
Advice, Want, Agree
John Steinbeck (2008). “The Winter of Our Discontent”, p.130, Penguin

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

John Steinbeck
Love, Broken Heart, Heartbroken

I suppose our capacity for self-delusion is boundless.

John Steinbeck
Depression, Self, Mental Illness
John Steinbeck (1980). “Travels with Charley in Search of America”, p.12, Penguin

The nicest thing in the world you can do for anybody is let them help you.

John Steinbeck
World, Helping, Can Do
John Steinbeck (2007). “Travels with Charley and Later Novels, 1947-1962”

In poverty she is envious. In riches she may be a snob. Money does not change the sickness, only the symptoms

John Steinbeck
Doe, May, Riches
John Steinbeck (2008). “The Winter of Our Discontent”, p.108, Penguin

I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.

John Steinbeck
Inspirational, Education, Teacher
John Steinbeck (2003). “America and Americans and Selected Nonfiction”, p.123, Penguin

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
Hurt, Adversity, Helping Others
John Steinbeck (2016). “The Grapes of Wrath”, p.303, Hamilton Books

I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.

John Steinbeck
Dog, Thinking, Nuts
John Steinbeck (2012). “The Portable Steinbeck”, p.42, Penguin

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