Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the disconnect between people and the land that produces their food, emphasizing the need for a deeper relationship with nature.
In this quote, John Steinbeck illustrates the importance of a genuine connection between humans and the land from which they derive sustenance. He argues that without involvement or appreciation for the agricultural process, such as planting seeds or tending to crops, people become estranged from the very essence of life that food represents. This disconnection leads to a lack of respect and reverence for the land, which ultimately results in its decline and failure to nourish both body and soul.
Themes
LandNatureConnectionAgricultureGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about sustainable farming practices.
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.
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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.
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It is one of the triumphs of the human that he can know a thing and still not believe it.
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You're going to pass something down no matter what you do or if you do nothing. Even if you let yourself go fallow, the weeds will grow and the brambles. Something will grow.
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