--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to…" description: "\"At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, \"You can't make a race horse o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg" --- # At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well… ![“At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, "You can't make a race horse of a pig." Samuel replies, "No, but you can make a very fast pig.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg) > “At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, "You can't make a race horse of a pig." Samuel replies, "No, but you can make a very fast pig.” [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. You cannot force greatness into an unsuitable form, but you can shape it into something impressive. **In simple terms:** Form matters, but so does shaping. Key Takeaway Recognize and work with inherent strengths. Themes potential limitations creativity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - team building - personal development Key Concepts nature vs nurture adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What strengths can you nurture in yourself or others? - How do you balance acceptance and improvement? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on shaping may ignore systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam/) [Adam Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam-tells-3388671/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Pig Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pig-samuel-3388673/) [Pigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigs/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-horses/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Samuel Replies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samuel-replies-3388672/) [Samuel Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samuel-urges-3388675/) [Urges Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges-adam-3388674/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Yes, you will. And I will warn you now that not their blood but your suspicion might build evil in them. They will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/yes-you-will-and-i-will-warn-you-now-that-not-their-blood-but-your/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [A real racehorse should have a head like a lady and the behind like a cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-leach/a-real-racehorse-should-have-a-head-like-a-lady-and-the-behind-like-a/) [Jack Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-leach/) > [Butler compared the tongues of these eternal talkers to race-horses, which go the faster the less weight they carry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/butler-compared-the-tongues-of-these-eternal-talkers-to-race-horses/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [In 1964, when Lee Iacocca said, 'Shelby, I want you to make a sports car out of the Mustang,' the first thing I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-shelby/in-1964-when-lee-iacocca-said-shelby-i-want-you-to-make-a-sports-car/) [Carroll Shelby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-shelby/) > [Race horses are like golfers, you're never sure how they're going to come out of the stalls. It's just - hopefully the horses come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/race-horses-are-like-golfers-you-re-never-sure-how-they-re-going-to/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [After winning Ascot's Queen Alexandra Stakes on Brown Jack- If you'd been on your honeymoon, you couldn't have had a happier time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-donoghue/after-winning-ascot-s-queen-alexandra-stakes-on-brown-jack-if-you-d/) [Steve Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-donoghue/) > [Horseracing and ranch horses are two different animals. You're getting race horses out and running and running them. It can be really problematic. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/horseracing-and-ranch-horses-are-two-different-animals-you-re-getting/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [It was bad enough to have toppled from the Olympic heights to make my living competing with animals. But the competition wasn't even fair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/it-was-bad-enough-to-have-toppled-from-the-olympic-heights-to-make-my/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Gamsters and race-horses never last long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/gamsters-and-race-horses-never-last-long/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I rode Sea Pigeon in all his work - that's why my arms are so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-birch/i-rode-sea-pigeon-in-all-his-work-that-s-why-my-arms-are-so-long/) [Mark Birch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-birch/) > [A loose horse is any horse sensible enough to get rid of its rider at an early stage and carry on unencumbered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/a-loose-horse-is-any-horse-sensible-enough-to-get-rid-of-its-rider-at/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [“The earth. Smog, murder, the poisoned air, the poisoned water, the poisoned food, the hatred, the hopelessness, everything. The only beautiful thing about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-earth-smog-murder-the-poisoned-air-the-poisoned-water-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Politics is like a race horse. A good jockey must know how to fall with the least possible damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-herriot/politics-is-like-a-race-horse-a-good-jockey-must-know-how-to-fall/) [Edouard Herriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-herriot/) > [Lochsong - she's like Linford Christie ... without the lunchbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-dettori/lochsong-she-s-like-linford-christie-without-the-lunchbox/) [Frankie Dettori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-dettori/) > [I was at the pinnacle of my career one day and the next day I was put out to pasture. I felt like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-klugman/i-was-at-the-pinnacle-of-my-career-one-day-and-the-next-day-i-was-put/) [Jack Klugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-klugman/) ## 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 Adam quotes > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Adam could imagine what he looked like: a debauched nerd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/adam-could-imagine-what-he-looked-like-a-debauched-nerd/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“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/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Adam's lips are set in a grime line. I can't tell if he's about to cry or about to punch the guard. For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Barışı elde etmek için çabalayan her adam olağanüstü bir adamdır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bar-elde-etmek-i-in-abalayan-her-adam-ola-an-st-bir-adamd-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 1,360 Adam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, \"You can't make a race horse of a pig.\" Samuel replies, \"No, but you can make a very fast pig.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Steinbeck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-raise-his-boys-well-regardless/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adam" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-raise-his-boys-well-regardless/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/john-steinbeck-71_adam_at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-rai_1170309.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them…” — 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": "At one point, as Samuel urges...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-raise-his-boys-well-regardless/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-one-point-as-samuel-urges-adam-to-raise-his-boys-well-regardless/#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 } } ] } ```