John Steinbeck

They're getting money together so they can go out west. They're going to buy a car and go out west where it's easy living. There's nothing here."

The memory of odors is very rich.

You can boast about anything if it’s all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.

Well, here’s your box. Nearly everything I have is in it, and it is not full. Pain and excitement are in it, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts—the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation.

And on top of these are all the gratitude and love I have for you.

And still the box is not full.

You can boast about anything if it’s all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.

Well, here’s your box. Nearly everything I have is in it, and it is not full. Pain and excitement are in it, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts—the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation.

And on top of these are all the gratitude and love I have for you.

And still the box is not full.

You can boast about anything if it’s all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.

You can boast about anything if it’s all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.

a dead mouse, George. I didn’ kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead.”
“Give it here!” said George.
“Aw, leave me have it, George.”
“Give it here!”

—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.