1,374 Quotes by John Steinbeck

There is no term comparable to green thumbs to apply to such a mechanic, but there should be. For there are men who can look, listen, tap, make an adjustment, and a machine works.

The story [Henny-Penny] has the best opening in all literature-"The sky is falling," cried Henny-Penny, "and a piece of it fell on my tail.

A woman holds dreadful power over a man who is in love with her but she should realize that the quality and force of his love is the index of his potential contempt and hatred.

I dislike helplessness in other people and in myself, and this is by far my greatest fear of illness.

I have starved and it isn't nearly as bad as is generally supposed. Four days and a half was my longest stretch. Maybe there are pains that come later. Personally I think terror is the painful part of starvation.

Fearful and unprepared, we have assumed lordship over the life or death of the whole world, of all living things.

Failure is a state of mind. It's like one of those sand traps an ant lion digs. You keep sliding back. Takes one hell of a jump to get out of it.

Best thing is to get the words down every day. And it is time to start now.

Critics are the eunuchs of literature. They stand by in envious awe while the whole man and his partner demonstrate the art of living.