---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And just as there was a cleanness about…"
description: "\"“And just as there was a cleanness about his body, so there was a cleanness in his thinking. Men coming to his blacksmith shop to talk and listen dropp..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-steinbeck-71_quote_and-just-as-there-was-a-cleanness-about_2183937.jpg"
---

#  And just as there was a cleanness about his body, so there…

![“And just as there was a cleanness about his body, so there was a cleanness in his thinking. Men coming to his blacksmith shop to talk and listen dropped their cursing for a while, not from any kind of restraint but automatically, as though this were not the place for it.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-steinbeck-71_quote_and-just-as-there-was-a-cleanness-about_2183937.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-steinbeck-71_quote_and-just-as-there-was-a-cleanness-about_2183937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-steinbeck-71_quote_and-just-as-there-was-a-cleanness-about_2183937.jpg)

> ““And just as there was a cleanness about his body, so there was a cleanness in his thinking. Men coming to his blacksmith shop to talk and listen dropped their cursing for a while, not from any kind of restraint but automatically, as though this were not the place for it.””

[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.

Physical cleanliness mirrors mental clarity, influencing others to pause negativity

**In simple terms:** Clean body, clean mind, calm atmosphere

Key Takeaway

Cultivate personal discipline for communal calm

Themes

discipline clarity influence

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

- workplace
- community centers
- schools

Key Concepts

mindfulness environmental psychology leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal order affect group dynamics?
- Can cleanliness replace deeper ethical behavior?

A Different Perspective

Not all environments can be controlled by one person

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Chastity, or cleanness of heart, holds a glorious and distinguished place among the virtues, because she, alone, enables man to see God; hence Truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/chastity-or-cleanness-of-heart-holds-a-glorious-and-distinguished/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

> [I have not only found good health, but perfect health; I have found a new state of being, a potentiality of life; a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/i-have-not-only-found-good-health-but-perfect-health-i-have-found-a/)

[Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/)

> [For cleanness of body was ever esteemed to proceed from a due reverence to God, to society, and to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/for-cleanness-of-body-was-ever-esteemed-to-proceed-from-a-due/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cleanness-of-body-was-ever-deemed-to-proceed-from-a-due-reverence-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Pardon if all the cleanness and the beauty Brave rhythym and the immemorial sea Ensare us sometimes with their siren song, Forgetful of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-hampson/pardon-if-all-the-cleanness-and-the-beauty-brave-rhythym-and-the/)

Norman Hampson

> [I don't like rooms you never use or that are wasted space but I also like a sparseness and a cleanness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-don-t-like-rooms-you-never-use-or-that-are-wasted-space-but-i-also/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [Water, air, and cleanness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/water-air-and-cleanness-are-the-chief-articles-in-my-pharmacy/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [When a whole nation is roaring patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-a-whole-nation-is-roaring-patriotism-at-the-top-of-its-voice-i/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don't have to ask anyone or play politics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-game-has-a-cleanness-if-you-do-a-good-job-the-numbers-say-so-you/)

[Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/)

> [The more clean you are in awakening to your own being, the more you'll be able to move your own being toward others. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/the-more-clean-you-are-in-awakening-to-your-own-being-the-more-you-ll/)

[John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/)

> [As a blacksmith uses heat to temper steel, so should a trial by fire strengthen ones mettle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-fry/as-a-blacksmith-uses-heat-to-temper-steel-so-should-a-trial-by-fire/)

[Jeffrey Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-fry/)

> [“Don't you squire me. There's something going on down here, something wrong; I can feel it in my boots and, believe me, they're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/don-t-you-squire-me-there-s-something-going-on-down-here-something/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [I was a blacksmith's boy but yesterday; I am - what shall I say I am today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-a-blacksmith-s-boy-but-yesterday-i-am-what-shall-i-say-i-am/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Other musicians are basically personalities who want to make a name for themselves. All I do is sing old songs in the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-redbone/other-musicians-are-basically-personalities-who-want-to-make-a-name/)

[Leon Redbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-redbone/)

> [“How did you ever come to like a common blacksmith?" "The word is 'love', Perrin Aybara.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/how-did-you-ever-come-to-like-a-common-blacksmith-the-word-is-love/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

## 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 Blacksmith quotes

> [“How did you ever come to like a common blacksmith?" "The word is 'love', Perrin Aybara.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/how-did-you-ever-come-to-like-a-common-blacksmith-the-word-is-love/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [Other musicians are basically personalities who want to make a name for themselves. All I do is sing old songs in the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-redbone/other-musicians-are-basically-personalities-who-want-to-make-a-name/)

[Leon Redbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-redbone/)

> [I was a blacksmith's boy but yesterday; I am - what shall I say I am today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-a-blacksmith-s-boy-but-yesterday-i-am-what-shall-i-say-i-am/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“Don't you squire me. There's something going on down here, something wrong; I can feel it in my boots and, believe me, they're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/don-t-you-squire-me-there-s-something-going-on-down-here-something/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [As a blacksmith uses heat to temper steel, so should a trial by fire strengthen ones mettle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-fry/as-a-blacksmith-uses-heat-to-temper-steel-so-should-a-trial-by-fire/)

[Jeffrey Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-fry/)

> [“the Russell slaves name Tom has his own blacksmith shop on East Bay. Missus Russell let him work for hire all day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/the-russell-slaves-name-tom-has-his-own-blacksmith-shop-on-east-bay/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [If you're a blacksmith, probably the proudest day of your life is when you get your first anvil. How innocent you are, little blacksmith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-re-a-blacksmith-probably-the-proudest-day-of-your-life-is-when/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“The blacksmith's boy went out with a rifle and a black dog running behind. Cobwebs snatched at his feet, rivers hindered him, thorn branches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-wright/the-blacksmith-s-boy-went-out-with-a-rifle-and-a-black-dog-running/)

[Judith Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-wright/)

> [“Regrets, Blacksmith, make poor currency. You can't but back with them what you most desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/regrets-blacksmith-make-poor-currency-you-can-t-but-back-with-them/)

[John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/)

> [You gotta call a blacksmith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/you-gotta-call-a-blacksmith/)

[Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/)

> [“The blacksmith has proved quite competent while treating Cooper, and he possesses a great many tools in his workshop. If he learned how susceptible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meljean-brook/the-blacksmith-has-proved-quite-competent-while-treating-cooper-and/)

[Meljean Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meljean-brook/)

> [Give us Direction; the best of goodwill; Put us in touch with fair winds. Sing to us softly, hum the evening's song. Tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/give-us-direction-the-best-of-goodwill-put-us-in-touch-with-fair/)

[Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/)

> [The country blacksmith who employs no journeyman is never conscious of any conflict between the capital invested in his anvil, hammer and bellows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-stanford/the-country-blacksmith-who-employs-no-journeyman-is-never-conscious/)

[Leland Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-stanford/)

> [The world is God's workshop; the raw materials are His; the ideals and patterns are His; our hands are "the members of Christ," our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/the-world-is-god-s-workshop-the-raw-materials-are-his-the-ideals-and/)

[Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/)

> [Why should a blacksmith put his hands in the fire if he has tongs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/why-should-a-blacksmith-put-his-hands-in-the-fire-if-he-has-tongs/)

[Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/)

Browse all 29 Blacksmith quotes

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