black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

To finish is sadness to a writer — a little death. He puts the last word down and it is done. But it isn’t really done. The story goes on and leaves the writer behind, for no story is ever done.

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.
JOHN STEINBECK

Acceptable Believe Courage Hurt Lying Punishment Time
In utter loneliness a writer tries to explain the inexplicable.
JOHN STEINBECK

Explanation Literature Lonely Trying
Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do, Try to be better than yourself.
JOHN STEINBECK

Dream Excellence Writing
I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments
JOHN STEINBECK

Experience Government Hate Nation
I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.
JOHN STEINBECK

Dog Human Thinking
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
JOHN STEINBECK

Feeling Yourself
The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplemental.
JOHN STEINBECK

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

Hate Leaving Life
Nearly everyone has his box of secret pain.
JOHN STEINBECK

Pain Secret
I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget it.
JOHN STEINBECK

Forget Imagination Revenge Way
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
Out of all this struggle a good thing is going to grow. That makes it worthwhile.
JOHN STEINBECK

Goodness Growth Inspirational Struggle Worth
A man on a horse is spiritually, as well as physically, bigger then a man on foot.
JOHN STEINBECK

Feet Horse Men Spiritual
It’s almost impossible to read a fine thing without wanting to do a fine thing.
JOHN STEINBECK

Impossible Reading
Sometimes a man wants to be stupid if it lets him do a thing his cleverness forbids.
JOHN STEINBECK

Ignorance Men Stupidity
Don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens – The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
JOHN STEINBECK

Goodness Lose Love Right
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
And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.
JOHN STEINBECK

Encouragement Goodness Inspirational Perfection
Man is the only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, then steps in it.
JOHN STEINBECK

Fools Literature Man
The nicest thing in the world you can do for anybody is let them help you.
JOHN STEINBECK

Help World Yourself
Time is the only critic without ambition.
JOHN STEINBECK

Ambition Judgment One Liner Time
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.
JOHN STEINBECK

Change Hide Men
Only mediocrity escapes criticism.
JOHN STEINBECK

Escape Life
Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk.
JOHN STEINBECK

Conversion Men World
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
It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.
JOHN STEINBECK

Expectation Greatness Himself Life Motivational
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

To finish is sadness to a writer — a little death. He puts the last word down and it is done. But it isn’t really done. The story goes on and leaves the writer behind, for no story is ever done.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

To finish is sadness to a writer — a little death. He puts the last word down and it is done. But it isn’t really done. The story goes on and leaves the writer behind, for no story is ever done.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More John Steinbeck Quotes