Travels with Charley is a travelogue written by John Steinbeck, one of America’s greatest authors. Published in 1962, the book recounts Steinbeck’s journey across America with his poodle, Charley, in a custom-built camper truck. Throughout his adventure, Steinbeck provides vivid descriptions of the people he meets, the landscapes he encounters, and the thoughts that arise from his experiences. Here are some memorable quotes from Travels with Charley that offer insights into the human condition and the beauty of the American landscape.
Read these quotes from Travels with Charley
“I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love.”
“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
“A dog is a bond between strangers. Many conversations between strangers in America are initiated by the question ‘What kind of dog is that?’ Our canine countrymen seem to be an open sesame to the hearts of Americans, and attitudes toward them reflect our national nature.”
“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.”
“We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. Tour masters, schedules, reservations, brass-bound and inevitable, dash themselves to wreckage on the personality of the trip. Only when this is recognized can the blown-in-the-glass bum relax and go along with it. Only then do the frustrations fall away.”
“I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation – a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here. They spoke quietly of how they wanted to go someday, to move about, free and unanchored, not toward something but away from something.”
“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 that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked.”
“We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.”
“I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion.”
“What I am trying to say is that the real troubles in living come from the dying. Not only of ourselves but of anything.”
“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 that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked.”
“I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation – a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here. They spoke quietly of how they wanted to go someday, to move about, free and unanchored, not toward something but away from something.”
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
“I am in love with cities I have never been to and people I have never met. I am in love with road trips, and train rides, and airports. I am in love with wanderlust.”
“I’m not sure I can see anything at all, or, what is worse, I see things that do not exist.”
“We do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
“We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. Tour masters, schedules, reservations, brass-bound and inevitable, dash themselves to wreckage on the personality of the trip. Only when this is recognized can the blown-in-the-glass bum relax and go along with it. Only then do the frustrations fall away.”
“We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.”
“I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love.”
“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
“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.”
These quotes from Travels with Charley offer a glimpse into the profound observations and musings of John Steinbeck as he embarked on his cross-country journey. They capture the essence of his experiences, his love for the American landscape, and his reflections on the human condition. Whether you’re a fan of Steinbeck’s writing or simply seeking inspiration for your own travels, these quotes are sure to resonate with you.
