---
title: "4 Little Boy Quotes By John Steinbeck"
description: "4 Little Boy quotes by John Steinbeck. Plus more from John Steinbeck and more Little Boy sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/john-steinbeck-71_boys_but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or_187324.jpg"
---

> [But whereas a puppy will cringe away or roll on its back, groveling, a little boy may cover his shyness with nonchalance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or-roll-on-its-back-groveling-a/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/john-steinbeck-71_boys_but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or_187324.jpg)

> [Well, every little boy thinks he invented sin. Virtue we think we learn, because we are told about it. But sin is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/well-every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin-virtue-we-think-we-learn/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/john-steinbeck-71_boys_well-every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented_1563165.jpg)

> [“He has come to be the great man he thought he wanted to be. If this is true, then he is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-has-come-to-be-the-great-man-he-thought-he-wanted-to-be-if-this-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/john-steinbeck-71_great-man_he-has-come-to-be-the-great-man-he-thoug_1996354.jpg)

> [... every little boy thinks he invented sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-steinbeck-71_boys_every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin_2373799.jpg)

## Other authors on Little Boy

## More by John Steinbeck

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“You come back a changed man. Samuel, you don’t change him. He changes you. I can see the look of him in your face.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-come-back-a-changed-man-samuel-you-don-t-change-him-he-changes/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-find-out-of-long-experience-that-i-admire-all-nations-and-hate-all/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/#itemlist",
            "name": "4 Little Boy Quotes By John Steinbeck",
            "numberOfItems": 4,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "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.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "John Steinbeck"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or-roll-on-its-back-groveling-a/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/john-steinbeck-71_boys_but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or_187324.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/john-steinbeck-71_boys_but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or_187324.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/john-steinbeck-71_boys_but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or_187324.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“But whereas a puppy will cringe away or roll on its back, groveling, a little boy may cover his shyness with…” — John Steinbeck",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Well, every little boy thinks he invented sin. Virtue we think we learn, because we are told about it. But sin is our own designing.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "John Steinbeck"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/well-every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin-virtue-we-think-we-learn/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/john-steinbeck-71_boys_well-every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented_1563165.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/john-steinbeck-71_boys_well-every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented_1563165.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/john-steinbeck-71_boys_well-every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented_1563165.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Well, every little boy thinks he invented sin. Virtue we think we learn, because we are told about it. But…” — John Steinbeck",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“He has come to be the great man he thought he wanted to be. If this is true, then he is not a man. He is still a little boy and wants the moon.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "John Steinbeck"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-has-come-to-be-the-great-man-he-thought-he-wanted-to-be-if-this-is/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/john-steinbeck-71_great-man_he-has-come-to-be-the-great-man-he-thoug_1996354.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/john-steinbeck-71_great-man_he-has-come-to-be-the-great-man-he-thoug_1996354.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/john-steinbeck-71_great-man_he-has-come-to-be-the-great-man-he-thoug_1996354.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“He has come to be the great man he thought he wanted to be. If this is true, then he is not a man. He is…” — John Steinbeck",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "... every little boy thinks he invented sin.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "John Steinbeck"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-steinbeck-71_boys_every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin_2373799.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-steinbeck-71_boys_every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin_2373799.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-steinbeck-71_boys_every-little-boy-thinks-he-invented-sin_2373799.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“... every little boy thinks he invented sin.” — John Steinbeck",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/",
            "name": "Little Boy Quotes by John Steinbeck",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/john-steinbeck-71_boys_but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or_187324.jpg"
            },
            "description": "4 Little Boy quotes by John Steinbeck. Plus more from John Steinbeck and more Little Boy sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Little Boy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "John Steinbeck",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/john-steinbeck/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```