John Steinbeck Quotes
If you’ve ever wondered how a writer keeps the momentum going, these 42 snippets capture Steinbeck’s relentless work ethic and his keen eye on power, culture, and the human condition. Voices range from Southern novelists to modern critics, giving you a quick pulse on his influence. Fans of American literature, Great‑Depression narratives, or narrative perseverance will also enjoy the nearby “American Classics” and “Literary Discipline” pages.
![“This all came of a conversation I had with [John] Steinbeck once when we were standing in a men's room somewhere. Steinbeck asked me why I didn't play the banjo any more and I told him that went out with the high-button shoes.” quote by Eddie Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d25/eddie-condon-39026_banjos_this-all-came-of-a-conversation-i-had-wi_1847661.jpg)
![“John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' also speaks urgently to today's concerns: the cratered trail of dreams for Mexican immigrants seeking a promised land in the Western [United States]; the perfidy of banks in foreclosing on poor people's homes; and the insurgent urge of the book's protagonist…” quote by Richard Corliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/673/richard-corliss-4476_book_john-steinbeck-s-the-grapes-of-wrath-als_249829.jpg)
![“He is the greatest artist the South has produced.… Indeed, through his many novels and short stories, Faulkner fights out the moral problem which was repressed after the nineteenth century [yet] for all his concern with the South, Faulkner was actually seeking out the nature of man. Thus we must…” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/william-faulkner-306_art_he-is-the-greatest-artist-the-south-has_2640538.jpg)
