---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever they's a fight so hungry people…"
description: "\"“Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there . . . . I'll be in the way guys..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg"
---

#  Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be…

![“Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there . . . . I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'-I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg)

> ““Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there . . . . I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'-I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build-why, I'll be there." Tom Joad””

[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 narrator pledges to stand with the oppressed in all hardships, from hunger to violence, showing solidarity.

**In simple terms:** Stand with those suffering.

Key Takeaway

Support the vulnerable.

Themes

solidarity justice community

Mood

compassionate determined

Type

inspirational social

When to use this quote

- poverty relief
- civil rights protests
- community organizing
- family support

Key Concepts

Empathy social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you help without compromising your own wellbeing?
- What actions best support those in need?

A Different Perspective

May overlook personal limits or burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/wherever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people-can-eat-i-ll-be-there/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I'll be ever'where–wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-ll-be-ever-where-wherever-you-look-wherever-they-s-a-fight-so/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Then it don' matter. Then I'll be all aroun' in the dark. I'll be ever'where - wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/then-it-don-matter-then-i-ll-be-all-aroun-in-the-dark-i-ll-be-ever/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Ma Joad: How am I gonna know about ya, Tommy? Why they could kill ya and I'd never know. They could hurt ya. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/ma-joad-how-am-i-gonna-know-about-ya-tommy-why-they-could-kill-ya-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Whenever they's a fight so hungry hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beating up a guy, I'll be there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-hungry-people-can-eat-i-ll-be-there/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Wherever you can look - wherever there's a fight, so hungry people can eat, I'll be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/wherever-you-can-look-wherever-there-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people-can/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“When you feed hungry people, you are showing mercy. The search for justice begins when you ask why the hungry are hungry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-nathan/when-you-feed-hungry-people-you-are-showing-mercy-the-search-for/)

[Rich Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-nathan/)

> [You entertain people who are satisfied. Hungry people can't be entertained - or people who are afraid. You can't entertain a man who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/you-entertain-people-who-are-satisfied-hungry-people-can-t-be/)

[Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/)

> [If you cannot feed one hundred hungry people, then just feed one really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-you-cannot-feed-one-hundred-hungry-people-then-just-feed-one/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [I don't want to see that two-tier Senegal, that two-tier Africa, when you have those at the top and those at the bottom, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-don-t-want-to-see-that-two-tier-senegal-that-two-tier-africa-when/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [I know what it's like to lose your home. I know what it's like to be hungry. I know what it's like to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-lose-your-home-i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be/)

[Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/)

> [They're hungry for something they know nothing about, but we, we know all too well that the price of fame is the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/they-re-hungry-for-something-they-know-nothing-about-but-we-we-know/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [I know what it's like to be hungry. I know what it's like to be homeless. I know what it's like to have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-hungry-i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be/)

[Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/)

> [If you're hungry, you know that you want to eat. You don't know what's on the menu - perhaps it's not your favorite dish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puigdemont/if-you-re-hungry-you-know-that-you-want-to-eat-you-don-t-know-what-s/)

[Carles Puigdemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puigdemont/)

> [“We don't want to know when we will die or when the people we love will betray us…we're hungry to know the dead before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster-oracle-night/we-don-t-want-to-know-when-we-will-die-or-when-the-people-we-love/)

Paul Auster Oracle Night

## 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 Hungry quotes

> [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/)

[Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/)

> [Aye girl, you hungry? How bout some Dick-fil-A?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley/aye-girl-you-hungry-how-bout-some-dick-fil-a/)

[Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley/)

> [“Live is like a box of chocolates, we are all just waiting for a hungry hand to come down and grab us and eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunshine/live-is-like-a-box-of-chocolates-we-are-all-just-waiting-for-a-hungry/)

[sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunshine/)

> [“When a wolf is hungry it befriends sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-a-wolf-is-hungry-it-befriends-sheep/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/)

[Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/)

> [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/)

[Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/)

> [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/)

[Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/)

> [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/)

[Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/)

> [What we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves. How many there are who sit helpless and listless, with open mouths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-as-christians-is-to-be-able-to-feed-ourselves-how-many/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/)

[Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/)

> [You get those hunger pains. 'I am so hungry. We don't have any food. What are we going to eat?' Your stomach hurts. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mclemore/you-get-those-hunger-pains-i-am-so-hungry-we-don-t-have-any-food-what/)

[Ben McLemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mclemore/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [This guy Clubber Lang, I've been him all my life. He's mean and hungry just like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/this-guy-clubber-lang-i-ve-been-him-all-my-life-he-s-mean-and-hungry/)

[Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/)

Browse all 2,537 Hungry quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there . . . . I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'-I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build-why, I'll be there.\" Tom Joad”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Steinbeck"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people-can-eat-i-ll-be-there/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hungry"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people-can-eat-i-ll-be-there/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-steinbeck-71_quote_whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people_2106644.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy…” — 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": "“Whenever they's a fight so hungry...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people-can-eat-i-ll-be-there/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/whenever-they-s-a-fight-so-hungry-people-can-eat-i-ll-be-there/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
