Quote

In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved.

John Steinbeck

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

John Steinbeck
Age: 66 †
Born: 1902
Born: February 27
Died: 1968
Died: December 20
Author
Novelist
Screenwriter
War Correspondent
Writer
Salinas
California
John Ernst Steinbeck
Jr.
John Ernst Steinbeck
John Ernest Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck Jr
Steinbeck
Good
Men
Topmost
Frailty
Underneath
Layers
Uncertainty
Loved
Certain

More quotes by John Steinbeck

Image
I believe there are monsters born in the world to human parents.... The face and body may be perfect, but if a twisted gene or a malformed egg can produce physical monsters, may not the same process produce a malformed soul?
John Steinbeck
Image
You can boast about anything if it's all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.
John Steinbeck
Image
Only mediocrity escapes criticism.
John Steinbeck
Image
I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt- and there is the story of mankind.
John Steinbeck
Image
It is the nature of a person as he/she grows older to protest against change, particularly changes for the better.
John Steinbeck
Image
Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world
John Steinbeck
Image
People don't want advice...only corroboration.
John Steinbeck
Image
But whereas a puppy will cringe away or roll on its back, groveling, a little boy may cover his shyness with nonchalance, with bravado, or with secrecy. And once a boy has suffered rejection, he will find rejection even where it does not exist-or, worse, will draw it forth from people simply by expecting it.
John Steinbeck
Image
And their greed was for gold or God. They collected souls as they collected jewels.
John Steinbeck
Image
The sound of a jet, an engine warming up, even the clopping of shod hooves on pavement brings on the ancient shudder, the dry mouth and vacant eye, the hot palms and the churn of stomach high up under the rib cage.
John Steinbeck
Image
A question is a trap and an answer is your foot in it.
John Steinbeck
Image
To the heavens on the wings of a pig.
John Steinbeck
Image
Men all do about the same thing when they wake up.
John Steinbeck
Image
The people in flight from the terror behind-strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refired forever.
John Steinbeck
Image
Boileau said that Kings, Gods and Heroes only were fit subjects for literature. The writer can only write about what he admires. Present-day kings aren't very inspiring, the gods are on a vacation and about the only heroes left are the scientists and the poor.
John Steinbeck
Image
Some men are friends with the whole world in their hearts, and there are others that hate themselves and spread their hatred around like butter on hot bread.
John Steinbeck
Image
I don’t mind getting smacked on the chin. I just don’t want to get nibbled to death. There’s a difference.
John Steinbeck
Image
People who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves they don't dream at all.
John Steinbeck
Image
Don't you dare take the lazy way. It's too easy to excuse yourself because of your ancestry. Don't let me catch you doing it! Now -- look close at me so you will remember. Whatever you do, it will be you who do.
John Steinbeck
Image
Intentions, good or bad, are not enough. There's luck or fate or something else that takes over.
John Steinbeck