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John Steinbeck Quotes — 7 Quotes by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck: American novelist and Nobel laureate, author of The Grapes of Wrath, 1902 to 1968.

The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.

John Steinbeck · Once There Was a War (1958)

When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.

John Steinbeck · East of Eden (1952)

Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.

John Steinbeck · Cannery Row (1945), opening sentence

Movin' 'cause they want somepin better'n what they got. An' that's the on'y way they'll ever git it.

John Steinbeck · The source reads: “They's movement now. People moving. We know why, an' we know how. Movin' 'cause they got to. That's why folks always move. Movin' 'cause they want somepin better'n what they got. An' that's the on'y way they'll ever git it.” · The Grapes of Wrath (1939), ch. 13

We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick.

John Steinbeck · The source reads: “A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick.” · Letter to Adlai Stevenson (November 5, 1959)

Where does discontent start? You are warm enough, but you shiver. You are fed, yet hunger gnaws you. You have been loved, but your yearning wanders in new fields.

John Steinbeck · Sweet Thursday (1954)

Why, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people—we go on.

John Steinbeck · The source reads: “Why, Tom, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people—we go on.” · The Grapes of Wrath (1939), ch. 20, Ma Joad

John Steinbeck Quotes

The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.

When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.

Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.

Movin' 'cause they want somepin better'n what they got. An' that's the on'y way they'll ever git it.

We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick.

Where does discontent start? You are warm enough, but you shiver. You are fed, yet hunger gnaws you. You have been loved, but your yearning wanders in new fields.

Why, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people—we go on.

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John Steinbeck Quotes

“The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.”

“When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.”

“Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.”

“Movin' 'cause they want somepin better'n what they got. An' that's the on'y way they'll ever git it.”

“We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick.”

“Where does discontent start? You are warm enough, but you shiver. You are fed, yet hunger gnaws you. You have been loved, but your yearning wanders in new fields.”

“Why, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people—we go on.”

Frequently asked questions

We Value Your Opinion Comments

The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.

When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.

Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.

Movin' 'cause they want somepin better'n what they got. An' that's the on'y way they'll ever git it.

We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick.

Where does discontent start? You are warm enough, but you shiver. You are fed, yet hunger gnaws you. You have been loved, but your yearning wanders in new fields.

Why, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people—we go on.