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He saw something that makes a man doubtful of the constancy of the realities outside himself. It was the shocking discovery that makes a man wonder if I've missed this, what else have I failed to see?
John Steinbeck
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the unsettling realization that one's understanding of reality may be flawed or incomplete.

In this quote, John Steinbeck conveys a deep sense of existential doubt and introspection. The protagonist experiences a profound moment of clarity that challenges his perception of the world, leading him to question the reliability of his observations and beliefs. This realization prompts a broader contemplation about what other truths may have eluded him, illustrating the inherent uncertainty of human experience and the quest for knowledge.

Themes

DoubtRealityPerceptionIntrospectionKnowledge

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion about existential philosophy, one might use this quote to highlight the uncertainty of human understanding.

More from John Steinbeck

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
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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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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.
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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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