There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had. . . | |
If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away. | |
— John Steinbeck | |
From: Letter to his lovesick son, Thom, 10 Nov 1958 | |
Taken from: “Steinbeck: A Life in Letters“ | |
I found it at: https://news.lettersofnote.com/ | |
The specific post is: https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/he-is-already-your-slave-this-would | |
[Please visit the original site if you have a spare moment. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Everything Good In You |
Within Your Heart | |
2020 | Keeping Christmas |
What Will You Give? | |
2019 | Looking Forward To Tomorrow (2019 Version) |
2018 | Not One Cent! |
Looking Forward to Tomorrow | |
2017 | Make Glad The Heart Of Childhood |
2016 | Sincerest Flattery |
The President-elect: Making Spirits Bright | |
2015 | What Are You Looking At? |
2014 | Ite, Missa Est |
2013 | I Hear Voices |
2012 | Positive Thoughts |
Hope Works | |
2011 | Look! Up In The Sky… |
Humility Before The Unknowable | |
Posts Tagged ‘John Steinbeck’
Everything Good In You
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged https://news.lettersofnote.com/, John Steinbeck, Other Blogs, Other web sites, Philosophy, Quotes, Steinbeck: A Life In Letters, Types Of Love on December 24, 2021| Leave a Comment »
In Need Of Some Work
Posted in My Journal, Quotes, tagged Great Suggestions, John Steinbeck, My Journal, On Sleep, Quotes on November 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »
It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it. | |
— John Steinbeck | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Why We Protect The First Amendment |
When A Voice Can Make You Cry | |
The March Continues… | |
2020 | #45: And State Prison Waits When You Leave Office |
I Keep Getting Up | |
Difficult To Relax | |
2019 | Looking For A Republican With A Profile In Courage |
2018 | Hammers, Bells And Songs |
2017 | My Friends |
2016 | In Need Of Some Work |
2015 | Elections Have Consequences |
2014 | An Ear Of Happy Accidents |
2013 | Powerful Substitute |
2012 | Heroes Restored |
2011 | As You Should |
The Latter A Lot Quicker Than The Former
Posted in Quotes, tagged John Steinbeck, On Aging, On Change, Quotes, Travels With Charley: In Search Of America on April 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »
It is the nature of a man as he grows older, a small bridge in time, to protest against change, particularly change for the better. But it is true that we have exchanged corpulence for starvation, and either one will kill us. | |
― John Steinbeck | |
From his book: “Travels with Charley: In Search of America“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Beyond Racial Classification |
2021 | There’s Still No Voter Fraud |
Versions | |
2020 | Another Reason #DonTheCon Continues To Lie About The Pandemic |
A Receptive Push | |
2019 | I’m Still Struggling To Rise |
2018 | Once Suddenly Free |
2017 | What Is Childlike |
2016 | The Latter A Lot Quicker Than The Former |
2015 | Notes On My Nightstand |
2014 | Generations |
2013 | Two For One |
2012 | Seen And Heard |
2011 | The Hazards And Vicissitudes Of Life |
Circles Within Circles
Posted in 2016 Book Review, Book Review, Reviews, tagged 2016 Book Review, Classic Literature, George Milton, Highly Recommended Book, John Milton, John Steinbeck, Lennie Small, live offa the fatta the lan, Of Mice And Men -- book review, Paradise Lost, The Great Depression on February 29, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Of Mice And Men (1937©) — book review | |
Continuing my efforts to die an educated man, over the weekend I finished one of the many “classics” I eluded in high school English class, “Of Mice And Men” by John Steinbeck. The novel is the story of two friends who share a dream of owning a small farm of their own and “live offa the fatta the lan“. The dream escapes them – and everyone else in the book too. | |
Written during the middle years of the Great Depression, the book is an ode to loneliness, the weakness of innocence, and the ultimate futility of tempting Fate by trying to make plans for the future. The book “seems” full of characters who represent symbols of generalized Man in all of our various (yet very specific) facets: the competent and understanding “Slim”, the injured by work and beaten by age “Candy”, the broken, isolated, yet still proud “Crooks”, the un-named and objectified young beauty of Mrs. “Curley”, the foolish bullying of the Napoleonic “Curley”, and of course the simple, innocent strength of Lennie Small and the lost plan of George Milton. I suppose it is too much to believe Steinbeck sat and created a “lion” (Leonard / Lennie) of a man with the intellect of a toddler (“small” child) and his best friend George (Greek for farmer) Milton (the author of “Paradise Lost“). I suppose… | |
As I’ve stated in some of my other posts, there is a saying in the martial arts: “when the student is ready, the master will appear.” I believe I am fortunate not to have read this book in high school. Without the extra forty odd years of experience, this would have simply been a predictable story of accidental death and Karmic retribution. It is that. It is also a fine wine of subtle hope and deep friendship in the face of depressing reality and personal loneliness. It is a man viewing a homeless mouse facing the coming of winter… Coming for both of them. | |
Final recommendation: a “classic”. Mildly to extremely depressing (be warned), but still highly recommended – if for nothing else, then so you’ll understand other people referencing the title. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | With Some Epic Scenery Along The Way |
2016 | Or Try To, Anyway… |
Circles Within Circles | |
2012 | Stingray – TV Series Review (This is my most popular post since starting my blog – hands down! It still draws hits almost every week. The hits seem to come mostly from Central Europe. I guess the show must be in syndication there. // 2020 update: While this is still my all-time, most popular post, it is no longer being viewed every week – or even every month. I guess the show is no longer in syndication.) |
A Single Thread | |
On, Rocinante!!
Posted in 2015 Book Review, Book Review, Philosophy, Politics, Reviews, tagged 2015 Book Review, Don Quixote, Highly Recommended Book, Highly Recommended Reading, John Steinbeck, Philosophy, Politics, Rocinante, Travels With Charley: In Search Of America - book review on December 20, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Travels With Charley – In Search Of America — book review | |
Today’s review is for one of John Steinbeck’s later works, “Travels With Charley” (1962©). The book is a “supposedly” non-fiction relating of a road trip Steinbeck made around the continental United States (about 10,000 miles). Roughly, the trip is from his home in New York, up to Maine, across the northern states to Seattle, down through California, back east to New Orleans (via Texas), then up the Eastern seaboard back to his home. Steinbeck says the trip is to allow him to get back in touch with the common American whom Steinbeck feels he based much of his writing on. Having lost “touch” with his roots, Steinbeck seeks to rediscover America by seeing it again with his own eyes. Steinbeck makes the trip in a truck with a custom built camper shell. The truck is named “Rocinante” – for the horse ridden by Don Quixote. | |
Although quite a number of books touch me (as a reader), there are relatively few which seem to strike an internal chord. I am not a musician, so forgive me if I am misusing the term “chord”, but it is more than a single note. It is a combination of notes which creates their own harmony. This book is one of those few for me. It is hard for me to adequately put into words the effect this book had except to say I consistently felt Steinbeck was writing it just to let me know I am not alone in how I feel about certain things. From his description of his perpetual wanderlust, to his affection for his pet dog (Charley), to his observations about America – its history and its people – its cities and our civilization – I just felt a powerful bond of kinship with Steinbeck. | |
In the martial arts, it is frequently said that when the student is ready, the teacher will find him. I think it ironic for me to “discover” this work as I turn sixty (“ish”) and that I feel its call to me to continue chasing my own windmills. “On, Rocinante!!” I cannot promise you this book will touch you as powerfully as it did me, but my final recommendation is Highly Recommended Book / Reading. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | If You Do Nothing About Climate Change |
Standing By | |
2020 | Each Over All |
Rollin’ Along | |
2019 | And Integrity For Today’s Elected Republicans |
2018 | A Faulty Start, Too |
Honorable Resignation And Syria | |
2017 | Beneath The Tree Of Wisdom |
The Republican Rape Of The American Middle Class | |
2016 | Something Authentic Happened |
2015 | Back On The Bricks |
On, Rocinante!! | |
2014 | Changing Frequently |
2013 | Trifles |
2012 | Simple, Ordinary And Wonderous |
2011 | Humane Writers |
For I Have Always Lived Violently
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged John Steinbeck, On Living A Full Life, Philosophy, Quotes, Travels With Charley: In Search Of America on December 19, 2015| Leave a Comment »
A kind of second childhood falls on so many men. They trade their violence for the promise of a small increase of life span. In effect, the head of the house becomes the youngest child. And I have searched myself for this possibility with a kind of horror. For I have always lived violently, drunk hugely, eaten too much or not at all, slept around the clock or missed two nights of sleeping, worked too hard and too long in glory, or slobbed for a time in utter laziness. I’ve lifted, pulled, chopped, climbed, made love with joy and taken my hangovers as a consequence, not as a punishment. I did not want to surrender fierceness for a small gain in yardage. My wife married a man; I saw no reason why she should inherit a baby. | |
― John Steinbeck | |
From his book: “Travels with Charley: In Search of America“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Most Likely Beast |
Memories To Last A Lifetime | |
2020 | Meet Unexpected Success |
Sweet Love | |
2019 | Curing With Salt |
2018 | A Politician With Skills |
And / Or A Genuine Smile | |
2017 | A Lone, Brave Voice… |
2016 | Job Security |
2015 | For I Have Always Lived Violently |
2014 | We Stand !! (I Stand With George) |
Additional Requirements | |
2013 | In The Present Day |
2012 | Feeling It |
2011 | Stretching Science |
Fear No Evil
Posted in Faith, Quotes, tagged Faith, John Steinbeck, Latin Phrases, Quotes, Travels With Charley: In Search Of America on December 6, 2015| Leave a Comment »
He said he was not afraid because years before a witch doctor gave him a charm against evil spirits. | |
“Let me see that charm,” I asked. | |
“It’s words,” he said. “It’s a word charm.” | |
“Can you say them to me?” | |
“Sure,” he said and he droned, “In nomine Patris et Filli et Spiritus Sancti.” | |
“What does it mean?” | |
He raised his shoulder. “I don’t know,” he said. | |
“It’s a charm against evil spirits so I am not afraid of them.” | |
I’ve dredged this conversation out of a strange-sounding Spanish but there is no doubt of his charm, and it worked for him. | |
― John Steinbeck | |
From his book: “Travels with Charley: In Search of America“ | |
[For those of you who are a bit rusty on your Latin: “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit“. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | And Ever |
Love Wouldn’t Lie | |
2020 | Why I Used To Jog At Dawn |
Seeing You In His Arms | |
2019 | The Most Pressing Task |
Don’t Mess With The Lady | |
2018 | Seek A Clear View |
2017 | Living With Myself |
2016 | Still Looking In Mirrors? |
2015 | Fear No Evil |
2014 | And Nothing Can Be As Tragic As… |
2013 | Your Tax Dollars At Work |
2012 | Historically Unacceptable |
2011 | Niners Are NFC West Division Champions!! |
The Essence Of Leadership | |
Still Itchin’
Posted in Quotes, tagged John Steinbeck, On Travel, Quotes, Travels With Charley: In Search Of America, Wanderlust on December 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »
When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. | |
― John Steinbeck | |
From his book: “Travels with Charley: In Search of America“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Candlelight Serenade |
Golden | |
A Roots Man, Myself | |
2020 | Wonder And Dreams |
Gatherin’ Up The Tears | |
2019 | I Resemble That Remark… (7!) |
2018 | Mueller Investigation Comparison To #LyingDonald |
2017 | #DonTheCon And Russian Collusion |
2016 | Balance The Truth |
2015 | Still Itchin’ |
2014 | One Life |
2013 | Reason Is Your Light |
2012 | Bordering Manhood |
2011 | Even Christ Couldn’t |
Recipe To Write: Start With One Aching Urge
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Writing, tagged David Kanigan, John Steinbeck, Lead.Learn.Live, On Writing, Philosophy, Quotes, Recipies For Writing on November 13, 2012| 3 Comments »
If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced there is, no one has ever been able to reduce it to a recipe that can be passed from one person to another. The formula seems to lie solely in the aching urge of the writer to convey something he feels important to the reader. If the writer has that urge, he may sometimes, but by no means always, find the way to do it. You must perceive the excellence that makes a good story good or the errors that makes a bad story. For a bad story is only an ineffective story. | |
— John Steinbeck | |
[The above quote was found at a blog site I follow (and have mentioned several times): Lead.Learn.Live maintained by David Kanigan. | |
The specific quote was under the heading: “Writing Better“ | |
If there is a “magic” in blogging, it is that it allows those of us who are not traditional writers to express ourselves – to ease our “aching urge” – conveying to the universe of readers the moments in our days where something touched us and made us feel something important just happened in our lives. Sometimes those things will be banally trite to most; but, sometimes, to others they will be like the light from a candle, passed from one to another, without loss to either but with more light for both. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | It Still Isn’t |
Swinging And Shaking | |
2020 | One Is Not Plural |
On And On… | |
2019 | I Think I’ve Just Been Argoted |
2018 | Good-Bye AG Jeff Sessions |
2017 | On Our Wall (Part 2) |
2016 | I Beg The Question |
2015 | By Their Fruit |
2014 | Proven Worth |
2013 | From Missouri |
2012 | Recipe To Write: Start With One Aching Urge |
2011 | Ip And Rib |
Real Things | |
2010 | Final Competition |