Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk.
JOHN STEINBECKPerhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk.
JOHN STEINBECKSomewhere 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 STEINBECKNo one wants advice – only corroboration.
JOHN STEINBECKIf you want to destroy a nation, give it too much – make it greedy, miserable and sick.
JOHN STEINBECKSocialism is just another form of religion, and thus delusional.
JOHN STEINBECKTo 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 STEINBECKA 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 STEINBECKTo be alive at all is to have scars.
JOHN STEINBECKIt’s almost impossible to read a fine thing without wanting to do a fine thing.
JOHN STEINBECKDon’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens – The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
JOHN STEINBECKWhat good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.
JOHN STEINBECKThe nicest thing in the world you can do for anybody is let them help you.
JOHN STEINBECKIt’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.
JOHN STEINBECKWhen 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 STEINBECKIf 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 STEINBECKWhen two people meet, each one is changed by the other so you’ve got two new people.
JOHN STEINBECK