Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
John SteinbeckRead
This you may say of man - when theories change and crash, when schools, philosophies, when narrow dark alleys of thought, national, religious, economic, grow and disintegrate, man reaches, stumbles forward, painfully, mistakenly sometimes. Having stepped forward, he may slip back, but only half a step, never the full step back.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes humanity's resilience and persistent pursuit of progress, even amid shifting theories and beliefs.
John Steinbeck's quote reflects on the inherent nature of humanity to seek advancement and understanding, despite facing challenges and setbacks. It suggests that while theories and ideologies may fall apart, individuals continue to strive forward, albeit sometimes hesitantly and imperfectly. Even if they falter, the progress made is not entirely lost; they may slip back a little but always retain some forward momentum. This embodies the essence of human perseverance in the face of change and uncertainty.
Themes
ResilienceProgressHumanityChangePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in an inspirational speech about overcoming adversity.
More from John Steinbeck
All quotes →At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, "You can't make a race horse of a pig." Samuel replies, "No, but you can make a very fast pig.
John SteinbeckRead
And when that crop grew, and was harvested, no man had crumbled a hot clod in his fingers and let the earth sift past his fingertips. No man had touched the seed, or lusted for the growth. Men ate what they had not raised, had no connection with the bread. The land bore under iron, and under iron gradually died; for it was not loved or hated, it had no prayers or curses.
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The comfortable people in tight houses felt pity at first, and then distaste, and finally hatred for the migrant people.
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People do not want advice - they want corroboration.
John SteinbeckRead
It is one of the triumphs of the human that he can know a thing and still not believe it.
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