Inspiration Quote by John Steinbeck
““Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. “Don’t you see?” he cried. “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, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: East of Eden, 1952
The Hebrew word “timshel” introduces free will, allowing humans to choose between good and evil, unlike deterministic translations.
In simple terms: Choice defines moral responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Embrace personal agency.
Themes
free will
morality
choice
responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- ethical dilemmas
- personal development
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
theology
human agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What choices define your life?
- How does recognizing free will affect your actions?
A Different Perspective
Deterministic views can still dominate discourse.
![“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)
