Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
John SteinbeckRead
For there are two possible reactions to social ostracism - either a man emerges determined to be better, purer, and kindlier or he goes bad, challenges the world and does even worse things. The last is by far the commonest reaction to stigma.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Social ostracism can lead individuals to either improve themselves or respond negatively with destructive behaviors.
John Steinbeck's quote reflects the complex psychological responses individuals have to social rejection. While some may choose to rise above stigma and become better versions of themselves, the more frequent reaction is to succumb to the negativity, which can result in further harmful actions. This duality highlights the significant impact of social interactions on personal development and behavior.
Themes
OstracismStigmatizationBehaviorSocietyPsychology
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about overcoming adversity, this quote can highlight how social rejection can lead to either growth or decline in character.
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.
John SteinbeckRead
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