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If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

John Steinbeck

Only through immitation do we develop toward originality.
JOHN STEINBECK

Development Transformation
It’s almost impossible to read a fine thing without wanting to do a fine thing.
JOHN STEINBECK

Impossible Reading
There’s nothing in the world like that first taste of beer.
JOHN STEINBECK

Alcohol Taste World
In utter loneliness a writer tries to explain the inexplicable.
JOHN STEINBECK

Explanation Literature Lonely Trying
It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.
JOHN STEINBECK

Darkness Grief Light Loss
My imagination will get me a passport to hell one day.
JOHN STEINBECK

Funny Hell Imagination Travel
And finally, in our time a beard is the one thing that a woman cannot do better than a man, or if she can her success is assured only in a circus.
JOHN STEINBECK

Circus Equality Women
An answer is invariably the parent of a whole family of new questions.
JOHN STEINBECK

Family Parents
I know now why confusion in government is not only tolerated but encouraged. I have learned. Confused people can make no clear demands.
JOHN STEINBECK

Confused Government People Tolerance
When a man comes to die, no matter what his talents and influences and genius, if he dies unloved his life must be a failure to him and his dying a cold horror.
JOHN STEINBECK

Death Failure Love Men Talent
With all our horrors and faults, somewhere in us there is a shining.
JOHN STEINBECK

Mistake Ourselves Shine
And, of course, people are interested only in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen.
JOHN STEINBECK

Himself Listening People Story
Out of all this struggle a good thing is going to grow. That makes it worthwhile.
JOHN STEINBECK

Goodness Growth Inspirational Struggle Worth
The nicest thing in the world you can do for anybody is let them help you.
JOHN STEINBECK

Help World Yourself
It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.
JOHN STEINBECK

Hate Leaving Life
A writer lives in awe of words, for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator.
JOHN STEINBECK

Change Kind Word Writing

If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

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If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More John Steinbeck Quotes