Quotes by John Steinbeck

And I feel that I am a man. And I feel that a man is a very important thing - maybe more important than a star. This is not theology. I have no bent toward gods. 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.

Hate cannot live alone. It must have love as a trigger, a goad or a stimulant

I do love her, and that’s odd because she is everything I detest in anyone else.

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

In human affairs of danger and delicacy successful conclusion is sharply limited by hurry.

Sexuality with all its attendant yearnings and pains, jealousies and taboos, is the most disturbing impulse humans have.

Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones.

Its because I havent courage, said Samuel. I could never quite take the responsibility. When the Lord God did not call my name, I might have called his name - but I did not. There you have the difference between greatness and mediocrity. Its not an uncommon disease. But its nice for a mediocre man to know that greatness must be the loneliest state in the world.Id think there are degrees of greatness, Adam said.I dont think so, said Samuel. That would be like saying there is a little bigness. No. I believe when you come to that responsibility the hugeness and you are alone to make your choice. On one side you have warmth and companionship and sweet understanding, and on the other - cold, lonely greatness. There you make your choice. Im glad I chose mediocrity, but how am I to say what reward might have come with the other? None of my children will be great either, except perhaps Tom. Hes suffering over the choosing right now. Its a painful thing to watch. And somewhere in me I want him to say yes. Isnt that strange? A father to want his son condemned to greatness! What selfishness that must be.

Toms cowardice was as huge as his courage, as it must be in great men.

Can you honestly love a dishonest thing?

Perhaps it takes courage to raise children..

Cathys lies were never innocent. Their purpose was to escape punishment, or work, or responsibility, and they were used for profit. Most liars are tripped up either because they forget what they have told or because the lie is suddenly faced with an incontrovertible truth. But Cathy did not forget her lies, and she developed the most effective method of lying. She stayed close enough to the truth so that one could never be sure. She knew two other methods also -- either to interlard her lies with truth or to tell a truth as though it were a lie. If one is accused of a lie and it turns out to be the truth, there is a backlog that will last a long time and protect a number of untruths.

I know that sometimes a lie is used in kindness. I dont believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of the truth can pass away, but the slow, eating agonyof a lie is neverlost. Thats a running sore

Cathy did not forget her lies, and she developed the most effective method of lying. She stayed close enough to the truth so that one could never be sure. She knew two other methods also––either to interlard her lies with truth or to tell a truth as though it were a lie. If one is accused of a lie and it turns out to be the truth, there is a backlog that will last a long time and protect a number of untruths.

Beans are a warm cloak against economic cold.

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.

Her total intellectual association was the Bible, except the talk of Samuel and her children, and to them she did not listen. In that one book she had her history and her poetry, her knowledge of peoples and things, her ethics, her morals, and her salvation. She never studied the Bible or inspected it; she just read it. The many places where it seems to refute itself did not confuse her in the least. And finally she came to a point where she knew it so well that she went right on reading it without listening.

Act out being alive, like a play. And after a while, a long while, it will be true.

Life is knowledge, livin it is Succes!

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