I have written a great many stories and I still don't know how to go about it except to write it and… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
No story has power, nor will it last, unless we feel in ourselves that it is true and true of us. — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
And, of course, people are interested only in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen. — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
We only have one story. All novels, all poetry are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
A man who tells secrets or stories must think of who is hearing or reading, for a story has as many versions… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
And the people listened, and their faces were quiet with listening. The story tellers, gathering attention into their tales, spoke in great… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced there is, no one has ever been able to reduce… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
“And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
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… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
Don't you love Jesus?' Well, I thought an' I thought an' finally I says, 'No, I don't know nobody name' Jesus. I… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
The basic rule [of writing] given us was simple and heartbreaking. A story to be effective had to convey something from the… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one. . . . Humans are caught—in their lives, in… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
We are lonesome animals. We spend all our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
I think the difference between a lie and a story is that a story utilizes the trappings and appearance of truth for… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced that there is, no one has ever been able to… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
When you collect marine animals there are certain flat worms so delicate that they are almost impossible to catch whole for they… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
“Pilon complained, "It is not a good story. There are too many meanings and too many lessons in it. Some of those… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the neverending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
A man who tells secrets or stories must think of who is hearing or reading, for a story has as many versions… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
I don't think there is a single sentence in this whole book [East of Eden] that does not either develop character, carry… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
To finish is sadness to a writer — a little death. He puts the last word down and it is done. But… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
Many are the stories I have heard about myself. I have mistresses I have never met. When I hear that I am… — John Steinbeck Copy Share Image
Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.” — John Steinbeck Copy Share
“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… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
“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.”… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments — John Steinbeck Copy Share
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… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
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… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
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… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like… — John Steinbeck Copy Share
![“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.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/john-steinbeck-71_cried_the-story-henny-penny-has-the-best-openi_2974740.jpg)
![“The basic rule [of writing] given us was simple and heartbreaking. A story to be effective had to convey something from the writer to the reader, and the power of its offering was the measure of its excellence. Outside of that, there were no rules.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/john-steinbeck-71_books_the-basic-rule-of-writing-given-us-was-s_1266697.jpg)
![“I don't think there is a single sentence in this whole book [East of Eden] that does not either develop character, carry on the story or provide necessary background.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/john-steinbeck-71_backgrounds_i-don-t-think-there-is-a-single-sentence_137884.jpg)
