Cannery Row, written by the renowned American author John Steinbeck, is a novel that takes place during the Great Depression in California. It beautifully captures the lives of the colorful characters who reside in the vibrant community of Cannery Row. Filled with humor, empathy, and insightful observations about human nature, this novel has become a classic in American literature. In this article, we have compiled a collection of memorable quotes from Cannery Row that will give you a glimpse into the rich tapestry of this beloved novel.
Read these quotes from Cannery Row
“It has always seemed strange to me… the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.”
“The things we do outlast our mortality. The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they’ve died. They’re like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs. Only instead of being made of stone, they’re made out of the memories people have of you.”
“When you collect marine animals there are certain flat worms so delicate that they are almost impossible to capture whole, for they break and tatter under the touch. You must let them ooze and crawl of their own will onto a knife blade and then lift them gently into your bottle of sea water. And perhaps that might be the way to write this book-to open the page and let the stories crawl in by themselves.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
“Now a strange thing happened to them. The business did well. It did not die. It prospered. And as it prospered, the monstrous thing came into being. It no longer needed its proprietors.”
“It is the hour of the pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.”
“The sun lay on the grass and warmed it, and in the shade under the grass the insects moved, ants and ant lions to set traps for them, grasshoppers to jump into the air and flick their yellow wings for a second, sow bugs like little armadillos to roll up pill bugs like little roly-poly pigs.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.”
“It is a time of quiet joy, the sunny morning. When the glittery dew is on the mallow weeds, each leaf holds a jewel which is beautiful if not valuable.”
“A man with his heart and mind in a city can’t very well leave. He can only wander aimlessly about the streets.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
“This is the hour of the pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.”
“It is the hour of the pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.”
“The sun lay on the grass and warmed it, and in the shade under the grass the insects moved, ants and ant lions to set traps for them, grasshoppers to jump into the air and flick their yellow wings for a second, sow bugs like little armadillos to roll up pill bugs like little roly-poly pigs.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.”
“It is a time of quiet joy, the sunny morning. When the glittery dew is on the mallow weeds, each leaf holds a jewel which is beautiful if not valuable.”
“A man with his heart and mind in a city can’t very well leave. He can only wander aimlessly about the streets.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
“The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
“This is the hour of the pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.”
These quotes from Cannery Row provide a glimpse into the profound insights and vibrant characters that make this novel a timeless classic. Each quote captures a different aspect of human nature and the struggles and joys of life. So, take a moment to reflect on these quotes and immerse yourself in the world of Cannery Row.
