--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let’s get it over and the door closed…" description: "\"“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new life. A man will have clean hands onc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/john-steinbeck-71_clean-hands_let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-sh_89433.jpg" --- # Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s… ![“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new life. A man will have clean hands once we get the lid slammed shut on that stinking century. It’s a fair thing ahead. There’s no rot on this clean new hundred years. It’s not stacked…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/john-steinbeck-71_clean-hands_let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-sh_89433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/john-steinbeck-71_clean-hands_let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-sh_89433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/john-steinbeck-71_clean-hands_let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-sh_89433.jpg) > ““Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new life. A man will have clean hands once we get the lid slammed shut on that stinking century. It’s a fair thing ahead. There’s no rot on this clean new hundred years. It’s not stacked, and any bastard who deals seconds from this new deck of years— why, we’ll crucify him head down over a privy. Oh, but strawberries will never taste so good again and the thighs of women have lost their clutch!”” [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 radical break from the past promises renewal, but the rhetoric is chaotic and contradictory, hinting at both hope and disillusionment. **In simple terms:** Closing chapters invites new beginnings. Key Takeaway Endings can be cleansing. Themes renewal history optimism cynicism metaphor Mood hopeful skeptical Type prose rhetorical When to use this quote - post‑war reflection - personal transformation - political upheaval Key Concepts periodic change societal critique Practical Applications - motivational speeches - literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - What does ‘closing the door’ symbolize for you? - Do you see the new chapter as hopeful or threatening? A Different Perspective The passage mixes grandiose optimism with obscure, possibly satirical, imagery that may obscure its intended message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clean hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-hands/) [New chapter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-chapter/) [New life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-shut-on-it-let-s-close-it-like-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I felt absolutely nothing. It was like a door quickly opened, showing me what horrible feelings I had inside, and then slammed shut again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-felt-absolutely-nothing-it-was-like-a-door-quickly-opened-showing/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“Who would have thought some doors only slammed shut temporarily; that when you turned to trudge away they could be flung open again, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-beecroft/who-would-have-thought-some-doors-only-slammed-shut-temporarily-that/) Alex Beecroft > [“I grabbed a beer out of the fridge and slammed it shut. I shouldn’t have come. I should have waited outside for Jack, told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-peterman/i-grabbed-a-beer-out-of-the-fridge-and-slammed-it-shut-i-shouldn-t/) [Robyn Peterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-peterman/) > [What is wrong with you Can't we both just get along I see the hesitation in your eyes Take me back again Maybe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buckcherry/what-is-wrong-with-you-can-t-we-both-just-get-along-i-see-the/) Buckcherry > [I won't let you close enough for you to hurt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-won-t-let-you-close-enough-for-you-to-hurt-me/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [“You can’t have true love if you never let anyone get close.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-naigle/you-can-t-have-true-love-if-you-never-let-anyone-get-close/) [Nancy Naigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-naigle/) > [“If she happens to let you close enough to love her, take it seriously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-happens-to-let-you-close-enough-to-love-her-take-it-seriously/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wont let you close enough to hurt me like everyone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wont-let-you-close-enough-to-hurt-me-like-everyone-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing for it is to use men for sex and never let any of them get so close they could hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/the-only-thing-for-it-is-to-use-men-for-sex-and-never-let-any-of-them/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Let's close all the Islamist mosques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/let-s-close-all-the-islamist-mosques/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [So I won't let you close enough to hurt me. No, I won't rescue you to just desert me. I can't give you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/so-i-won-t-let-you-close-enough-to-hurt-me-no-i-won-t-rescue-you-to/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [It's okay to let your guard down and let someone get close to actually care about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-okay-to-let-your-guard-down-and-let-someone-get-close-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We don't let go, we can't get close I still need you, and you still need me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-let-go-we-can-t-get-close-i-still-need-you-and-you-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I won't let you close enough to hurt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-won-t-let-you-close-enough-to-hurt-me/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) ## 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 Clean hands quotes > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“There are the girls we love, the men we look up to, the tenderness, the friendships, the opportunities, the pleasures! But the fact remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/there-are-the-girls-we-love-the-men-we-look-up-to-the-tenderness-the/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [God is looking for clean hands and a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/god-is-looking-for-clean-hands-and-a-pure-heart/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [Here, you go to the supermarket and you have wipes to clean your hands before shopping. No, we don't have that in France, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-bejo/here-you-go-to-the-supermarket-and-you-have-wipes-to-clean-your-hands/) [Berenice Bejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-bejo/) > [There are many out there who plead and pray for help. There are those who are discouraged, those who are beset by poor health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/there-are-many-out-there-who-plead-and-pray-for-help-there-are-those/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Before pointing fingers make sure your hands are clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/before-pointing-fingers-make-sure-your-hands-are-clean/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them. You would be justified, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/suppose-you-found-your-brother-in-bed-with-your-wife-and-put-a/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [If any influential nation had the great spiritual strength to lay down its arms and appear with clean hands before the world, the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-any-influential-nation-had-the-great-spiritual-strength-to-lay/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [God works for man through man and seldom, if at all, in any other way. He asks for our voices to speak His truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/god-works-for-man-through-man-and-seldom-if-at-all-in-any-other-way/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [They were still in the happier stage of love. They were full of brave illusions about each other, tremendous illusions, so that the communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-still-in-the-happier-stage-of-love-they-were-full-of-brave/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? She who has clean hands and a pure heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-coleman/who-may-ascend-the-hill-of-the-lord-who-may-stand-in-his-holy-place/) Sarah Coleman > [“During all that time I didn't see Willie. I didn't see him again until he announced in the Democratic primary in 1930. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/during-all-that-time-i-didn-t-see-willie-i-didn-t-see-him-again-until/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [At last, someone came to tell me I'd been selected as commissioner, which gave rise to the line that I took the job with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/at-last-someone-came-to-tell-me-i-d-been-selected-as-commissioner/) [Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/) > [The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule , between good and evil but between two evils. You can let the Nazis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-choice-before-human-beings-is-not-as-a-rule-between-good-and-evil/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“I love the juice but I loathe sticky fingers. Clean hands, Sansa. Whatever you do, make certain your hands are clean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-love-the-juice-but-i-loathe-sticky-fingers-clean-hands-sansa/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) [Browse all 45 Clean hands quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-hands/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new life. A man will have clean hands once we get the lid slammed shut on that stinking century. It’s a fair thing ahead. There’s no rot on this clean new hundred years. It’s not stacked, and any bastard who deals seconds from this new deck of years— why, we’ll crucify him head down over a privy. 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