---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I here make a rule-a great and…"
description: "\"“And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting-only the deeply per..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg"
---

#  And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about…

![“And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting-only the deeply personal and familiar.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg)

> ““And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting-only the deeply personal and familiar.””

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A story must resonate with universal human experience; otherwise it fades.

**In simple terms:** Stories need personal, familiar elements to endure.

Key Takeaway

Make narratives relatable.

Themes

storytelling universality personal connection

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

narrative philosophical

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- film script
- marketing campaign
- public speaking

Key Concepts

human experience empathy cultural relevance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance personal detail with broader appeal?
- What universal truth does your story convey?

A Different Perspective

Not all personal details are universally relatable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[East of eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east-of-eden/) [Lasting Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting-story-1546891/) [Make Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-rule-1859702/) [Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-strange-1859701/)

## Related quotes

> [ “If a story is not about the hearer he \[or she\] will not listen . . . A great lasting story is about everyone… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/if-a-story-is-not-about-the-hearer-he-or-she-will-not-listen-a-great/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Lee said, “Remember, Mr. Hamilton, I told you I was trying to translate some old Chinese poetry into English? No, don’t worry. I won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/lee-said-remember-mr-hamilton-i-told-you-i-was-trying-to-translate/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“...of course, people are interested only in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen. And I here make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/of-course-people-are-interested-only-in-themselves-if-a-story-is-not/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“And, of course, people are only interested in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen. And I here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-of-course-people-are-only-interested-in-themselves-if-a-story-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Every time you make a rule, somebody will think of a way to operate around the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hsien-loong/every-time-you-make-a-rule-somebody-will-think-of-a-way-to-operate/)

[Lee Hsien Loong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hsien-loong/)

> ['Seconds' is grounded in the reality of this restaurant environment, and I did do plenty of research, so there's that. It takes place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/seconds-is-grounded-in-the-reality-of-this-restaurant-environment-and/)

[Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/)

> [I think the difference between a lie and a story is that a story utilizes the trappings and appearance of truth for the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-think-the-difference-between-a-lie-and-a-story-is-that-a-story/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I've heard two ways of looking at it. One says the silent man is the wise man & the other that a man without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-ve-heard-two-ways-of-looking-at-it-one-says-the-silent-man-is-the/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“First we find a buried star and now we go to dig up a mint-new human”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/first-we-find-a-buried-star-and-now-we-go-to-dig-up-a-mint-new-human/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [There's a capacity for appetite... that a whole heaven and earth of cake can't satisfy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-s-a-capacity-for-appetite-that-a-whole-heaven-and-earth-of-cake/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved. Indeed most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-uncertainty-i-am-certain-that-underneath-their-topmost-layers-of-2/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“But some men are friends with the whole world in their hearts, and there are others that hate themselves and spread their hatred around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-some-men-are-friends-with-the-whole-world-in-their-hearts-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [This I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/this-i-must-fight-against-any-idea-religion-or-government-which/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“It's because I haven't courage,' said Samuel. 'I could never quite take the responsibility. When the Lord God did not call my name, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-s-because-i-haven-t-courage-said-samuel-i-could-never-quite-take/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [ I don't think there is a single sentence in this whole book \[East of Eden\] that does not either develop character, carry on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-single-sentence-in-this-whole-book-east-of/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

## More by John Steinbeck

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“You come back a changed man. Samuel, you don’t change him. He changes you. I can see the look of him in your face.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-come-back-a-changed-man-samuel-you-don-t-change-him-he-changes/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-find-out-of-long-experience-that-i-admire-all-nations-and-hate-all/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Explore all 1,589 John Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

## More East of eden quotes

> [ I don't think there is a single sentence in this whole book \[East of Eden\] that does not either develop character, carry on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-single-sentence-in-this-whole-book-east-of/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I've heard two ways of looking at it. One says the silent man is the wise man & the other that a man without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-ve-heard-two-ways-of-looking-at-it-one-says-the-silent-man-is-the/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [In East of Eden, John Steinbeck wrote that there's never been a great creative collaboration. When the Beatles first burst on the scene, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/in-east-of-eden-john-steinbeck-wrote-that-there-s-never-been-a-great/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“First we find a buried star and now we go to dig up a mint-new human”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/first-we-find-a-buried-star-and-now-we-go-to-dig-up-a-mint-new-human/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [There's a capacity for appetite... that a whole heaven and earth of cake can't satisfy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-s-a-capacity-for-appetite-that-a-whole-heaven-and-earth-of-cake/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [This I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/this-i-must-fight-against-any-idea-religion-or-government-which/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I think the difference between a lie and a story is that a story utilizes the trappings and appearance of truth for the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-think-the-difference-between-a-lie-and-a-story-is-that-a-story/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“It's because I haven't courage,' said Samuel. 'I could never quite take the responsibility. When the Lord God did not call my name, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-s-because-i-haven-t-courage-said-samuel-i-could-never-quite-take/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“But some men are friends with the whole world in their hearts, and there are others that hate themselves and spread their hatred around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-some-men-are-friends-with-the-whole-world-in-their-hearts-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved. Indeed most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-uncertainty-i-am-certain-that-underneath-their-topmost-layers-of-2/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“…this was the gold from our mining: 'Thou mayest.' The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin (and you can call sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-a-lee/this-was-the-gold-from-our-mining-thou-mayest-the-american-standard/)

[Jo A. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-a-lee/)

> [A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean question: Was it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-man-after-he-has-brushed-off-the-dust-and-chips-of-his-life-will/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [There is one sure thing about the fall of gods: they do not fall a little; they crash and shatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-is-one-sure-thing-about-the-fall-of-gods-they-do-not-fall-a/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us, so that we live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-believe-that-there-is-one-story-in-the-world-and-only-one-that-has/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [A man may have lived all of his life in the gray, and the land and trees of him dark and somber. The events,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-man-may-have-lived-all-of-his-life-in-the-gray-and-the-land-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Browse all 41 East of eden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east-of-eden/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting-only the deeply personal and familiar.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Steinbeck"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasting-story-is-about-everyone-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "East of eden"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasting-story-is-about-everyone-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/john-steinbeck-71_east-of-eden_and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasti_970570.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“And I here make a rule-a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and…” — John Steinbeck",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Steinbeck",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“And I here make a rule-a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasting-story-is-about-everyone-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-i-here-make-a-rule-a-great-and-lasting-story-is-about-everyone-or/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```