Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
John SteinbeckRead
People who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves they don't dream at all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fear of pursuing dreams can lead people to deny their aspirations.
This quote by John Steinbeck highlights the psychological barrier that fear can create, preventing individuals from acknowledging their dreams and potential. When people are too afraid to strive for their desires, they often suppress their dreams altogether, convincing themselves they do not have any aspirations or ambitions, which ultimately limits their growth and fulfillment in life.
Themes
DreamsFearAspirationsSelf-DeceptionAmbition
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to encourage young students to pursue their passions.
More from John Steinbeck
All quotes βAt 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.
John SteinbeckRead
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