--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will and George were doing well in…" description: "\"“Will and George were doing well in business, and Joe was writing letters home in rhymed verse and making as smart an attack on all the accepted veriti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/john-steinbeck-71_age-and-wisdom_will-and-george-were-doing-well-in-busin_2845410.jpg" --- # Will and George were doing well in business, and Joe was… ![“Will and George were doing well in business, and Joe was writing letters home in rhymed verse and making as smart an attack on all the accepted verities as was healthful. Samuel wrote to Joe, sayings, "I would be disappointed if you had not become an atheist, and I read pleasantly that you have…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/john-steinbeck-71_age-and-wisdom_will-and-george-were-doing-well-in-busin_2845410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/john-steinbeck-71_age-and-wisdom_will-and-george-were-doing-well-in-busin_2845410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/john-steinbeck-71_age-and-wisdom_will-and-george-were-doing-well-in-busin_2845410.jpg) > ““Will and George were doing well in business, and Joe was writing letters home in rhymed verse and making as smart an attack on all the accepted verities as was healthful. Samuel wrote to Joe, sayings, "I would be disappointed if you had not become an atheist, and I read pleasantly that you have, in your age and wisdom, accepted agnosticism the way you'd take a cookie on a full stomach. But I would ask you with all my understanding heart not to try to convert your mother. Your last letter only made her think you are not well. Your mother does not believe there are many ills uncurable by good strong soup. She puts your brave attack on the structure of our civilization down to a stomach ache. It worries her. Her faith is a mountain, and you, my son, haven't even got a shovel yet.”” [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 letter discussing religious belief, agnosticism, and familial concern over health and faith. **In simple terms:** Discusses faith, agnosticism, and family worries. Key Takeaway Respect differing beliefs while caring for loved ones. Themes faith family belief health Mood contemplative empathetic Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - family counseling - interfaith dialogue - health advocacy Key Concepts theology philosophy interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How to balance belief and respect? - What role does health play in faith? A Different Perspective May cause tension in families. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age and wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-and-wisdom/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Writing Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-letters/) ## Related quotes > [Almighty God, I am sorry I am now an atheist, but have You read Nietzsche?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/almighty-god-i-am-sorry-i-am-now-an-atheist-but-have-you-read/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [I believe that the best way to become an atheist is to read the bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-that-the-best-way-to-become-an-atheist-is-to-read-the-bible/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [My mother found a letter, though, that I wrote her when I was 8 years old and it was a letter where I asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/my-mother-found-a-letter-though-that-i-wrote-her-when-i-was-8-years/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [The judges gave your mother a letter that is keeping me away from you. 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But only if the grapes were good in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-buren/it-s-true-some-wine-improves-with-age-but-only-if-the-grapes-were/) [Abigail Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-van-buren/) [Browse all 12 Age and wisdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-and-wisdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Will and George were doing well in business, and Joe was writing letters home in rhymed verse and making as smart an attack on all the accepted verities as was healthful. Samuel wrote to Joe, sayings, \"I would be disappointed if you had not become an atheist, and I read pleasantly that you have, in your age and wisdom, accepted agnosticism the way you'd take a cookie on a full stomach. But I would ask you with all my understanding heart not to try to convert your mother. Your last letter only made her think you are not well. 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