John Steinbeck Quotes about Life

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Only mediocrity escapes criticism.

John Steinbeck

Life, Criticism, Mediocrity

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

I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one. . . . Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil. . . . There is no other story. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well—or ill?

John Steinbeck

Life, Kindness, Believe

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

John Steinbeck

Life, Motivational, Positive

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

John Steinbeck

Life, People, Lovely

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

It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.

John Steinbeck

Life, Good Morning, Adversity

John Steinbeck (2008). “Sweet Thursday”, p.180, Penguin

A man without words is a man without thought.

John Steinbeck

Life, Men, Contradicting

John Steinbeck (2002). “East of Eden”, p.125, Penguin

I've lived in good climate, and it bores the hell out of me. I like weather rather than climate.

John Steinbeck

Life, Weather, Climate

John Steinbeck (1980). “Travels with Charley in Search of America”, p.24, Penguin

A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean question: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well - or ill?

John Steinbeck

Life, Integrity, Character

John Steinbeck (1952). “East of Eden, And, The Wayward Bus”

Lord, how the day passes! It's like a life - so quickly when we don't watch it and so slowly when we do.

John Steinbeck

Life, Watches, Lord

John Steinbeck (2002). “East of Eden”, p.234, Penguin

I think of my life as a kind of music, not always good music but still having form and melody.

John Steinbeck

Life, Thinking, Kind

John Steinbeck (1952). “East of Eden, And, The Wayward Bus”

One man was so mad at me that he ended his letter, "Beware. You will never get out of this world alive."

John Steinbeck

Life, Men, Mad

"The Mail I've Seen". Saturday Review magazine, August 03, 1956.

People do not want advice - they want corroboration.

John Steinbeck

Life, People, Advice

In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved. Indeed most of their vices are attempted short cuts to love. When a man comes to die, no matter what his talents and influence and genius, if he dies unloved his life must be a failure to him and his dying a cold horror.

John Steinbeck

Life, Cutting, Men

John Steinbeck (2002). “East of Eden”, p.363, Penguin