Thomas Steinbeck

I started writing serious books so late because I knew Id be accused of riding on my fathers coattails.

— Thomas Steinbeck

My only job is to write in such a way that the reader gets a new handle on humanity.

— Thomas Steinbeck

Since I cant write the greatest American novel, Im going to write the longest American novel.

— Thomas Steinbeck

Since I can't write the greatest American novel, I'm going to write the longest American novel.

— Thomas Steinbeck

My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman.

— Thomas Steinbeck

I started writing serious books so late because I knew I'd be accused of riding on my father's coattails.

— Thomas Steinbeck

Plot makes the character just as history makes the man.

— Thomas Steinbeck

I like writing, but I write for self-improvement more than I do for money.

— Thomas Steinbeck

From my fathers point of view, without a thought for self, a true patriot stands up against the stones of condemnation and…

— Thomas Steinbeck

My father believed, like Pericles, that a mans genius could be easily judged by the number of unenlightened fools set in phalanx…

— Thomas Steinbeck

My father believed, like Pericles, that a man's genius could be easily judged by the number of unenlightened fools set in phalanx…

— Thomas Steinbeck

The characters in my stories, whether historical or fictional, usually prove to be a compilation of influences taken from differing sources, but…

— Thomas Steinbeck

I've always been fascinated by the Chinese. This goes a long way back to my childhood. The Chinese invented money, movable type,…

— Thomas Steinbeck

You didn't grow up in the shadow of John Steinbeck. He put you on his shoulders and gave you all the light…

— Thomas Steinbeck

I was eighteen when I first read Joseph Heller's stunning work 'Catch-22,' and was at that time close to being drafted for…

— Thomas Steinbeck

When I was fifteen, my father gave me a first edition copy of Ray Bradbury's magnificent work, 'The Martian Chronicles.' I had…

— Thomas Steinbeck

I would hardly say that I have a rich knowledge of anything in particular, but I do seem to be burdened with…

— Thomas Steinbeck

My father told us all the time: to become a good writer takes writing. Because the more you do it, the better…

— Thomas Steinbeck

My father, John Steinbeck, was a man who held human history in great reverence, and in particular the biographies of those people…

— Thomas Steinbeck

When it comes to the form the narrative will take, whether first person, third person, or Aunt Grace's cat, I usually find…

— Thomas Steinbeck

The biggest impact my father had on my life was teaching the importance of literacy.

— Thomas Steinbeck

I thought my dad was out of work, because my friends had fathers with briefcases who'd go off somewhere with bow ties…

— Thomas Steinbeck

My father valued patriotism above all other social obligations, but he had his own particular interpretation of just how true patriotism was…

— Thomas Steinbeck

For someone who loves literature, and all books on principle, being asked to name three titles over a half century of serious…

— Thomas Steinbeck

You didnt grow up in the shadow of John Steinbeck. He put you on his shoulders and gave you all the light…

— Thomas Steinbeck