Failure Quote by John Steinbeck
““They said I looked like a foreign devil; they said I spoke like a foreign devil. I made mistakes in manners, and I didn't know delicacies that had grown up since my father left. They wouldn't have me. You can believe it or not - I'm less foreign here than I was in China.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
The narrator feels less alienated in a new country than in the homeland, highlighting paradoxical identity shifts.
In simple terms: I feel more foreign here than in China.
Key Takeaway
Recognize identity can be fluid across cultures.
Themes
identity
belonging
migration
culture shock
Mood
thoughtful
poignant
Type
narrative
personal
When to use this quote
- immigration
- workplace integration
- social acceptance
- language learning
Key Concepts
self perception
cultural adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines feeling 'foreign'?
- How does cultural distance affect self‑esteem?
A Different Perspective
May overlook systemic barriers faced by immigrants.
![“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)
