57 Quotes by John Steinbeck That Are Filled with Wisdom

Last updated on December 24, 2022

John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (born 27 February 1902, Salinas, California, United States – died 20 December 1968, New York, New York, United States) was an American author. He is best known for his comic novels Tortilla Flat (1935) and Cannery Row (1945), the multi-generation epic East of Eden (1952), and the novellas The Red Pony (1933) and Of Mice and Men (1937).

John Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize for "Grapes of Wrath" in 1940, and the Nobel Prize in Literature for his body of work in 1962. He has been called "a giant of American letters."

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

All great and precious things are lonely.― John Steinbeck — All great and precious things are lonely.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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 — 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.

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

A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.― John Steinbeck — A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.

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

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

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

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

All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.― John Steinbeck — All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.

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

I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us, so that we live in a Pearl White serial of continuing thought and wonder.― John Steinbeck — I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us, so that we live in a Pearl White serial of continuing thought and wonder.

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

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

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

The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.― John Steinbeck — The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.

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 — 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.

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 — 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.

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

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

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.― John Steinbeck — If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

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

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.― 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.

We are lonesome animals. We spend all life trying to be less lonesome.― John Steinbeck — We are lonesome animals. We spend all life trying to be less lonesome.

Anything that just costs money is cheap.― John Steinbeck — Anything that just costs money is cheap.

Only mediocrity escapes criticism.― John Steinbeck — Only mediocrity escapes criticism.

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

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 — 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.

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 — 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.

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

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

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 — 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.

I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.― John Steinbeck — I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.

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

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

I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget it.― John Steinbeck — I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget 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 — 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 am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.― John Steinbeck — I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.

Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk.― John Steinbeck — Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk.

A kind of light spread out from her. And everything changed color. And the world opened out. And a day was good to awaken to. And there were no limits to anything. And the people of the world were good and handsome. And I was not afraid any more.
John Steinbeck

Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard.― John Steinbeck — Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard.

If you want to destroy a nation, give it too much – make it greedy, miserable and sick.― John Steinbeck — If you want to destroy a nation, give it too much – make it greedy, miserable and sick.

Books are the best friends you can have; they inform you, and entertain you, and they don’t talk back.― John Steinbeck — Books are the best friends you can have; they inform you, and entertain you, and they don’t talk back.

I guess there are never enough books.― John Steinbeck — I guess there are never enough books.

Time is the only critic without ambition.― John Steinbeck — Time is the only critic without ambition.

Writers are a little below clowns and a little above trained seals.― John Steinbeck — Writers are a little below clowns and a little above trained seals.

In utter loneliness, a writer tries to explain the inexplicable.― John Steinbeck — In utter loneliness, a writer tries to explain the inexplicable.

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

When a child first catches adults out—when it first walks into his grave little head that adults do not always have divine intelligence, that their judgments are not always wise, their thinking true, their sentences just—his world falls into panic desolation. The gods are fallen and all safety gone. And there is one sure thing about the fall of gods: they do not fall a little; they crash and shatter or sink deeply into green muck. It is a tedious job to build them up again; they never quite shine. And the child's world is never quite whole again. It is an aching kind of growing.
John Steinbeck

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