--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am impelled, not to squeak like a…" description: "\"I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.\" — John Steinbeck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg" --- # I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and… ![“I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg) > “I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.” [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. Professional pride should drive bold, confident expression rather than timid, apologetic behavior. **In simple terms:** Be proud and assertive in your work. Key Takeaway Speak with confidence and own your expertise. Themes pride confidence professionalism Mood assertive motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - presentations - leadership meetings - networking events Key Concepts self‑esteem career development Questions to Reflect On - What does true professional pride look like? - How can you temper confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can alienate others; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetic/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Impelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impelled/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) ## Related quotes > [“He wanted to roar like a lion on a cement floor. And bellow like a polar bear with yellow fur worn down to pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-nevill/he-wanted-to-roar-like-a-lion-on-a-cement-floor-and-bellow-like-a/) [Adam Nevill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-nevill/) > [A man feels impelled to do something to keep awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mulock/a-man-feels-impelled-to-do-something-to-keep-awake/) [William Mulock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mulock/) > [ \[We are not\] to take one step, even in the direction of what is good, beyond that to which we are irresistibly impelled by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-are-not-to-take-one-step-even-in-the-direction-of-what-is-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [If I had been straight, I would have been an entirely different person. I would never have turned toward writing with a burning desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/if-i-had-been-straight-i-would-have-been-an-entirely-different-person/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I've always been impelled to say the truth. When I was 14, in 1954, I already wrote a gay novel, though I'd never read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/i-ve-always-been-impelled-to-say-the-truth-when-i-was-14-in-1954-i/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I'm inclined to think that, because it's such an awful life, that politicians do go into it for the best reasons. I mean, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eyre/i-m-inclined-to-think-that-because-it-s-such-an-awful-life-that/) [Richard Eyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eyre/) > [Such is the prestige of the Nobel Award and of this place where I stand that I am impelled, not to speak like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/such-is-the-prestige-of-the-nobel-award-and-of-this-place-where-i/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The point really is that a writer tends to write a book that he or she tends to write. It's as simple as that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-point-really-is-that-a-writer-tends-to-write-a-book-that-he-or/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Idly, I flipped through the ledger's pages, for I cannot resist a book set before me no matter its kind. Writing draws my eye;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliot/idly-i-flipped-through-the-ledger-s-pages-for-i-cannot-resist-a-book/) Kate Elliot > [“Every thing was to take its natural course, however, neither impelled nor assisted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/every-thing-was-to-take-its-natural-course-however-neither-impelled/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [It is our business to go as we are impelled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/it-is-our-business-to-go-as-we-are-impelled/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer has the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologetics-conduct-city-wide/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In the New Testament alone there are Gospels, acts, epistles, and an apocalypse. Gospels contain literary forms like miracles, parables, pronouncements, proverbs, farewell discourses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-blomberg/in-the-new-testament-alone-there-are-gospels-acts-epistles-and-an/) [Craig Blomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-blomberg/) > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) ## 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 Apologetic quotes > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [In the New Testament alone there are Gospels, acts, epistles, and an apocalypse. Gospels contain literary forms like miracles, parables, pronouncements, proverbs, farewell discourses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-blomberg/in-the-new-testament-alone-there-are-gospels-acts-epistles-and-an/) [Craig Blomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-blomberg/) > [We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer has the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologetics-conduct-city-wide/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I'm a single-issue voter, to get straight to the point. I'm really only interested in the candidate who's toughest and least apologetic when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-m-a-single-issue-voter-to-get-straight-to-the-point-i-m-really-only/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is a vocation and, as in any other calling, a writer should develop his talents for the greater glory of God. Novels should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/writing-is-a-vocation-and-as-in-any-other-calling-a-writer-should/) Piers Paul Read > [... and yet he could also be very charming, in a bookish, infinitely apologetic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/and-yet-he-could-also-be-very-charming-in-a-bookish-infinitely/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [When I started playing in bands, we had to be apologetic for what we did. We had to be apologetic because the mainstream was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-antonoff/when-i-started-playing-in-bands-we-had-to-be-apologetic-for-what-we/) [Jack Antonoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-antonoff/) > [“The snow lay thin and apologetic over the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cooper/the-snow-lay-thin-and-apologetic-over-the-world/) [Susan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cooper/) > [In a post-modern culture we need an apologetic that is felt and seen because if post-moderns are not feeling it, they are not believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-a-post-modern-culture-we-need-an-apologetic-that-is-felt-and-seen/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [I'm apologetic when I feel like I've made a mistake. And when I have done a disservice to myself or someone else. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-m-apologetic-when-i-feel-like-i-ve-made-a-mistake-and-when-i-have/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I know I'm an overachiever, and I'm not apologetic about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-know-i-m-an-overachiever-and-i-m-not-apologetic-about-it/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [Apologetics has an important place in the local church as we seek to influence our communities for Christ in an increasingly skeptical culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/apologetics-has-an-important-place-in-the-local-church-as-we-seek-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [If you don't feel apologetic for slavery, if you don't feel apologetic for colonialism, if you feel proud of it then say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-you-don-t-feel-apologetic-for-slavery-if-you-don-t-feel-apologetic/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most apologetic books are really written for Christians, even the ones that purport to be written for non-believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/most-apologetic-books-are-really-written-for-christians-even-the-ones/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Browse all 127 Apologetic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Steinbeck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grateful-and-apologetic-mouse-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apologetic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grateful-and-apologetic-mouse-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/john-steinbeck-71_apologetic_i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grate_2910511.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in…” — 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": "I am impelled, not to squeak...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grateful-and-apologetic-mouse-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-impelled-not-to-squeak-like-a-grateful-and-apologetic-mouse-but/#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 } } ] } ```