80+ John Steinbeck Quotes | Minimalist Quotes

A man on a horse is spiritually, as well as physically, bigger then a man on foot.
JOHN STEINBECK

Feet Horse Men Spiritual
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
Man is the only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, then steps in it.
JOHN STEINBECK

Fools Literature Man
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

Defeat Destroy Greatness Success Victory World
No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.
JOHN STEINBECK

Himself Human Literature Men
Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased.
JOHN STEINBECK

Journey Space Time
It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.
JOHN STEINBECK

Expectation Greatness Himself Life Motivational
Nearly everyone has his box of secret pain.
JOHN STEINBECK

Pain Secret
I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments
JOHN STEINBECK

Experience Government Hate Nation
Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do, Try to be better than yourself.
JOHN STEINBECK

Dream Excellence Writing
A man without words is a man without thought.
JOHN STEINBECK

Life Men Word
The craft or art of writing is the clumsy attempt to find symbols for the wordlessness.
JOHN STEINBECK

Art Word Writing
If you understand each other you will be kind to each other.
JOHN STEINBECK

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

Hate Leaving Life
The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.
JOHN STEINBECK

Exploration Freedom Human Mindset Value World
I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.
JOHN STEINBECK

Born Lost Myself
This I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.
JOHN STEINBECK

Destroy Fighting Freedom Government Greatness Limitation Religion
In poverty she is envious. In riches she may be a snob. Money does not change the sickness, only the symptoms.
JOHN STEINBECK

Animal Change Herself Money Sickness
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts, perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
JOHN STEINBECK

Corruption Fear Loss Power
Out of all this struggle a good thing is going to grow. That makes it worthwhile.
JOHN STEINBECK

Goodness Growth Inspirational Struggle Worth
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
There’s a responsibility in being a person. It’s more than just taking up space where air would be.
JOHN STEINBECK

Person Responsibility Space
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
A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.
JOHN STEINBECK

Literature Lonely Soul
American married life is the doormat to the whorehouse.
JOHN STEINBECK

Life Marriage Sex
People like you to be something, preferably what they are.
JOHN STEINBECK

People Yourself
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

Last Listening Myself Rule Story

John Steinbeck Quotes

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