--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First the strangers came with argument…" description: "\"“First the strangers came with argument and authority and gunpowder to back up both. And in the four hundred years Kino's people had learned only one d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/john-steinbeck-71_people-learned_first-the-strangers-came-with-argument-a_141635.jpg" --- # First the strangers came with argument and authority and… ![“First the strangers came with argument and authority and gunpowder to back up both. And in the four hundred years Kino's people had learned only one defense - a slight slitting of the eyes and a slight tightening of the lips and a retirement. Nothing could break down this wall, and they could…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/john-steinbeck-71_people-learned_first-the-strangers-came-with-argument-a_141635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/john-steinbeck-71_people-learned_first-the-strangers-came-with-argument-a_141635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/john-steinbeck-71_people-learned_first-the-strangers-came-with-argument-a_141635.jpg) > ““First the strangers came with argument and authority and gunpowder to back up both. And in the four hundred years Kino's people had learned only one defense - a slight slitting of the eyes and a slight tightening of the lips and a retirement. Nothing could break down this wall, and they could remain whole within the wall.”” [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 community's isolationist defense preserves identity but may hinder growth and openness. **In simple terms:** Isolation protects but limits. Key Takeaway Balance protection with openness. Themes community defense identity Mood thoughtful analytical Type sociological philosophical When to use this quote - cultural preservation - immigration policy - social integration Key Concepts anthropology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What benefits does openness bring? - How can communities stay resilient while engaging? A Different Perspective Isolation can breed stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kino-628265/) [Kino People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kino-people-1599597/) [People Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-learned/) [Strangers Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers-came-1599598/) [Years Kino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-kino-1599596/) ## Related quotes > [“A plan once made and visualized becomes a reality along with other realities- never to be destroyed but easily to be attacked. Thus Kino's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-plan-once-made-and-visualized-becomes-a-reality-along-with-other/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“They had spoken once, but there is not need for speech if it is only a habit anyay. Kino sighed with satisfaction -- and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/they-had-spoken-once-but-there-is-not-need-for-speech-if-it-is-only-a/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [ \[Kino\] worked really well as a song title, and to build into a lyric, and also how we embraced mulit-media at the time. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/kino-worked-really-well-as-a-song-title-and-to-build-into-a-lyric-and/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [Kino-Eye uses every possible means in montage, comparing and linking all points of the universe in any temporal order, breaking, when necessary, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dziga-vertov/kino-eye-uses-every-possible-means-in-montage-comparing-and-linking/) [Dziga Vertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dziga-vertov/) > [“Mr. Kino, you're not the type who would willingly do something wrong. I know that very well. 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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. 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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. 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