--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were born on it, and we got killed on…" description: "\"“We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good, it's still ours. That's what makes it ours--being born on it, working i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/john-steinbeck-71_ownership_we-were-born-on-it-and-we-got-killed-on_2543262.jpg" --- # We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it… ![“We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good, it's still ours. That's what makes it ours--being born on it, working it, dying on it. That makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/john-steinbeck-71_ownership_we-were-born-on-it-and-we-got-killed-on_2543262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/john-steinbeck-71_ownership_we-were-born-on-it-and-we-got-killed-on_2543262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/john-steinbeck-71_ownership_we-were-born-on-it-and-we-got-killed-on_2543262.jpg) > ““We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good, it's still ours. That's what makes it ours--being born on it, working it, dying on it. That makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it.”” [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. Our connection to land is rooted in lived experience, not legal titles; ownership is earned through labor and life cycles. **In simple terms:** Land ownership comes from living and working on it. Key Takeaway Value lived experience over paperwork. Themes land ownership labor identity Mood reflective earthy Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - farming - homeownership - community building - environmental activism Key Concepts property rights existentialism environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does personal labor shape your sense of ownership? - What responsibilities arise from this view? A Different Perspective Legal titles alone cannot capture true stewardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-working-1453451/) [Got Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-killed/) [Makes Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-born-1453450/) [Makes Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-ownership-1453449/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) ## Related quotes > [“...but it's our land. We measured it and broke it up. We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-it-s-our-land-we-measured-it-and-broke-it-up-we-were-born-on-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I'm never going to be a woman who doesn't work. At 12 I was emancipated from my parents so I could sign my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/i-m-never-going-to-be-a-woman-who-doesn-t-work-at-12-i-was/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [Every artist makes himself born. It is very much harder than the other time, and longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/every-artist-makes-himself-born-it-is-very-much-harder-than-the-other/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Every artist makes herself born. You must bring the artist into the world yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/every-artist-makes-herself-born-you-must-bring-the-artist-into-the/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“He grabs hold of my wrist. I am shocked by the sensation of his skin warm against mine. 'Take care,' he says, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/he-grabs-hold-of-my-wrist-i-am-shocked-by-the-sensation-of-his-skin/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [People say Altamont was the end of the 60s. It was unfortunate, but at the time we didnt think of it as signaling anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/people-say-altamont-was-the-end-of-the-60s-it-was-unfortunate-but-at/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [“Eve: "We nearly got killed over ice cream." Shane: "Another thing I don't want on my tombstone." Claire: "You have others?" Shane: "\*first finger\*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cain/eve-we-nearly-got-killed-over-ice-cream-shane-another-thing-i-don-t/) [Rachel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cain/) > [“One of them declared: 'Doing this work, one either goes crazy the first day or gets accustomed to it.' Another, though: 'Certainly I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/one-of-them-declared-doing-this-work-one-either-goes-crazy-the-first/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“It got him killed, but at least he felt something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/it-got-him-killed-but-at-least-he-felt-something/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [“IT’D BE A BLOODY STUPID WORLD IF PEOPLE GOT KILLED WITHOUT DYING,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-d-be-a-bloody-stupid-world-if-people-got-killed-without-dying/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When I got the script for Memento, I read it and I got killed off on page one and I fired my agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pantoliano/when-i-got-the-script-for-memento-i-read-it-and-i-got-killed-off-on/) [Joe Pantoliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pantoliano/) > [“I knew right then that I wanted to be a part of something that meaningful. I wanted to have something I was so passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-massimino/i-knew-right-then-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-something-that/) [Mike Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-massimino/) > [“I met this kid from Miles City, Montana, who read the Stars and Stripes every day, checking the casualty lists to see if by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-herr/i-met-this-kid-from-miles-city-montana-who-read-the-stars-and-stripes/) [Michael Herr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-herr/) > [“Oh good,” Amos replied. “Somebody got killed there. That’s how we claim stuff, you know. This planet is officially ours now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/oh-good-amos-replied-somebody-got-killed-there-that-s-how-we-claim/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“But I held him till he relented and just let me pet him and give him some affection. “I love you, Toast. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craven/but-i-held-him-till-he-relented-and-just-let-me-pet-him-and-give-him/) [Michael Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craven/) ## 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 Ownership quotes > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Ownership is a very complex judicial concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/ownership-is-a-very-complex-judicial-concept/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [When you screw with somebody's sense of ownership of something, that's when they react.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murray/when-you-screw-with-somebody-s-sense-of-ownership-of-something-that-s/) [James Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murray/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [I believe in public ownership, but I have never favoured the remote nationalised model of the postwar era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-believe-in-public-ownership-but-i-have-never-favoured-the-remote/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/it-s-really-a-pity-that-there-are-observers-who-view-political-events/) [Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/) > [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/people-try-to-put-ownership-on-things-that-s-mine-that-s-my-joke-no/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I think athletes in general, your days are numbered. Any time you can kind of learn and grow from an entrepreneurship standpoint and ownership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-think-athletes-in-general-your-days-are-numbered-any-time-you-can/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The vast majority of companies don't go public and mint dozens of millionaires. And most companies don't go around doling out stock options; private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/the-vast-majority-of-companies-don-t-go-public-and-mint-dozens-of/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Land ownership in Guatemala is more unequal than anywhere else in Latin America. Roughly 90 percent of Guatemalan farms are too small to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/land-ownership-in-guatemala-is-more-unequal-than-anywhere-else-in/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) [Browse all 861 Ownership quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good, it's still ours. That's what makes it ours--being born on it, working it, dying on it. 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