Seen Turtles Quote by John Steinbeck
““Young Tom Joad and the preacher watched the turtle go—waving its legs and boosting its heavy, highdomed shell along toward the southwest. The cat crept along behind for a while, but in a dozen yards it arched its back to a strong taut bow and yawned, and came stealthily back toward the seated men. “Where the hell you s’pose he’s goin’?” said Joad. “I seen turtles all my life. They’re always goin’ someplace. They always seem to want to get there.” The gray cat seated itself between and behind them again. It blinked slowly. The skin over its shoulders jerked forward under a flea, and then slipped slowly back. The cat lifted a paw and inspected it, flicked its claws out and in again experimentally, and licked its pads with a shell-pink tongue””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck, 1939
The passage uses a turtle’s steady progress and a cat’s curiosity to illustrate perseverance and the inevitability of movement toward a goal.
In simple terms: Turtles keep moving toward a destination; cats observe.
Key Takeaway
Recognize steady effort even when progress seems slow.
Themes
perseverance
observation
nature
journey
Mood
reflective
hopeful
contemplative
Type
literary
narrative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- hiking
- long‑term projects
- personal growth
- overcoming stagnation
Key Concepts
existentialism
symbolism
naturalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the turtle’s persistence teach about your own goals?
- How do you respond when progress feels incremental?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook that not all journeys are purposeful or linear.
![“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)
