45 Inspirational John Steinbeck Quotes (LIFE)

Top 10 Most Famous John Steinbeck Quotes (BEST)

“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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.

All great and precious things are lonely.

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.

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

7 Inspirational John Steinbeck Quotes

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.

There’s more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty. — There’s more **beauty** in **truth**, even if it is dreadful beauty.

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

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

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.

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.

12 John Steinbeck Quotes that will Make You Think

“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

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 on 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 on the world.

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

A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion is fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Anything that just costs money is cheap. — Anything that just costs **money** is cheap.

7 John Steinbeck Quotes About Life

“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

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.

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.

“It is a time of quiet joy, the sunny morning. When the glittery dew is on the mallow weeds, each leaf holds a jewel which is beautiful if not valuable. This is no time for hurry or for bustle. Thoughts are slow and deep and golden in the morning.”
John Steinbeck