Children Quote by John Steinbeck
““Monsters are variations from the accepted normal to a greater or a less degree. As a child may be born without an arm, so one may be born without kindness or the potential of conscience. A man who loses his arms in an accident has a great struggle to adjust himself to the lack, but one born without arms suffers only from people who find him strange. Having never had arms, he cannot miss them. Sometimes when we are little we imagine how it would be to have wings, but there is no reason to suppose it is the same feeling birds have. No, to a monster the norm must seem monstrous, since everyone is normal to himself. To the inner monster it must be even more obscure, since he has no visible thing to compare with others. To a man bor without conscience, a soul-stricken man must seem ridiculous. To a criminal, honesty is foolish. You must not forget that a monster is only a variation, and that to a monster the norm is monstrous.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
Monsters are simply deviations from what is considered normal, and their perception of normality is distorted because they lack a reference point.
In simple terms: Monsters are just different from the norm.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that differences are not inherently evil.
Themes
difference
norms
perception
empathy
identity
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- education
- diversity training
- mental health counseling
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Existentialism
social psychology
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we define “normal”?
- What impact does labeling have on inclusion?
A Different Perspective
The concept of “monster” can be used to stigmatize and dehumanize.
![“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)
