East of eden Quote by Jo A. Lee
““…this was the gold from our mining: 'Thou mayest.' The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin (and you can call sin ignorance). The King James translation makes a promise in 'Thou shalt,' meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word timshel—'Thou mayest'—that gives a choice. For if 'Thou mayest'—it is also true that 'Thou mayest not.' That makes a man great and that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: East of Eden by John Steinbeck, 1952
The Hebrew word “timshel” means “you may,” granting humans free will to choose good or evil, making them responsible for their destiny.
In simple terms: Choice gives power and responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Embrace your freedom to choose.
Themes
free will
responsibility
human nature
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- ethical dilemmas
- leadership
- spiritual growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
theology
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you recognize the power of your choices?
- How does acknowledging free will affect your actions?
A Different Perspective
Choice can be overwhelming and lead to paralysis.
![“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/img-quotes/281/john-steinbeck-71_backgrounds_i-don-t-think-there-is-a-single-sentence_137884.jpg)
