If I could do this book properly it would be one of the really fine books and a truly American book. But I am assailed with my own ignorance and inability. i'll just have to work from a background of these. Honesty. If I can keep an honesty it is all I can expect of my poor brain.... If I can do that it will be all my lack of genius can produce. For no else knows my lack of ability the way I do. I am pushing against it all the time.
("The Grapes of Wrath")
More Quotes from John Steinbeck:
In utter loneliness a writer tries to explain the inexplicable.John Steinbeck
When I was very young and the urge to be someplace was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. In other words, I don't improve, in further words, once a bum always a bum. I fear the disease is incurable.
John Steinbeck
The words are meaningless except in terms of feeling. Does anyone act as the result of thought or does feeling stimulate action and sometimes thought implement it.
John Steinbeck
His ear heard more than what was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.
John Steinbeck
I guess I'm trying to say, Grab anything that goes by. It may not come around again.
John Steinbeck
The break would never come as long as fear could turn to wrath.
John Steinbeck
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Based on Topics: Abilities Quotes, Books Quotes, Brain Quotes, Genius Quotes, Honesty & Integrity Quotes, Mind Quotes, Time QuotesBased on Keywords: assailed
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