Left hand Quote by John Steinbeck
““Doc turned in the seat and looked back. The disappearing sun shone on his laughing face, his gay and eager face. With his left hand he held the bucking steering wheel. Cannery Row looked after the ancient car. It made the first turn and was gone from sight behind a warehouse just as the sun was gone. Fauna said, 'I wonder if I'd be safe to put up her gold star tonight. What the hell's the matter with you, Mack?' Mack said, 'Vice is a monster so frightful of mien, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.' He put his arm around Hazel's shoulders. 'I think you'd of made a hell of a president,' he said.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, 1945
A scene of camaraderie and reflection, juxtaposing mundane travel with deeper musings on safety, power, and leadership.
In simple terms: Friends discuss safety, power, and leadership while traveling.
Key Takeaway
Consider how camaraderie shapes decisions.
Themes
friendship
leadership
reflection
power
safety
Mood
contemplative
lighthearted
introspective
Type
literary
dialogue
philosophical
When to use this quote
- road trips
- team meetings
- leadership discussions
- personal reflections
Key Concepts
human nature
authority
trust
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does shared humor affect group dynamics?
- What does “vice is a monster” suggest about personal flaws?
A Different Perspective
The dialogue may be overly poetic, obscuring practical meaning.
![“[Cannery Row's] inhabitants are, as the man once said, 'whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches,' by which he meant everybody. Had the man looked through another peephole he might have said, 'saints and angels and martyrs and holy men,' and he would have meant the same thing.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e5/john-steinbeck-71_angel_cannery-row-s-inhabitants-are-as-the-man_1620410.jpg)
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
