--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The things we admire in men, kindness and…" description: "\"“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomiants of failure in our system. And t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-steinbeck-71_failure_the-things-we-admire-in-men-kindness-and_2227836.jpg" --- # The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity… ![“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomiants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-steinbeck-71_failure_the-things-we-admire-in-men-kindness-and_2227836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-steinbeck-71_failure_the-things-we-admire-in-men-kindness-and_2227836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-steinbeck-71_failure_the-things-we-admire-in-men-kindness-and_2227836.jpg) > ““The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomiants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second. (Cannery Row)”” [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. Society rewards traits like greed and selfishness while condemning kindness and generosity, revealing a paradox in values. **In simple terms:** Success is linked to selfish traits, kindness to failure. Key Takeaway Question the values we reward in society. Themes values societal paradox success morality Mood critical thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - political discourse - personal ambition Key Concepts capitalism ethical relativism social critique Questions to Reflect On - What traits are truly rewarded today? - Can kindness coexist with success? A Different Perspective Ignores context where kindness leads to success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness And Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-and-generosity/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ## Related quotes > [“It always seemed strange to me that the things we admire in men: kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-always-seemed-strange-to-me-that-the-things-we-admire-in-men/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“It has always seemed strange to me,” said Doc. “The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-always-seemed-strange-to-me-said-doc-the-things-we-admire-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-has-always-seemed-strange-to-me-the-things-we-admire-in-men/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“A child may ask, “What is the world’s story about?” And a grown man or woman may wonder, “What way will the world go?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-child-may-ask-what-is-the-world-s-story-about-and-a-grown-man-or/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/humans-are-caught-in-their-lives-in-their-thoughts-in-their-hungers-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one. . . . 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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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