“Of Mice and Men” is a classic novel by American author, John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, the book tells the story of two displaced ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, during the Great Depression in California. Their life, dreams, friendship and tragedy are captured in emotional and heart-rending words. Below are the 20 most popular quotes from the novel that take the reader on an emotional journey through diverse human experiences and evoke deep thoughts about life.
Most Popular Quotes from Of Mice and Men:
- “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.”
- “Ain’t many guys travel around together. I don’t know why. Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”
- “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”
- “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.”
- “Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly.”
- “But I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it.”
- “Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.”
- “You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.”
- “We could live offa the fatta the lan’.”
- “He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.”
- “Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’.”
- “Well, I ain’t giving you no trouble. Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?”
- “He was just a mutt. There wasn’t no special breed to ’m.”
- “If you just happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.”
- “We know what we got, and we don’t care whether you know or not.”
- “Well, you ain’t bein’ kind to him keepin’ him alive.”
- “Curley was flopping like a fish on a line.”
- “If you can’t look after Lennie, if he’s too much trouble, why don’t you get rid of him? He ain’t no good to you.”
- “They fell into a silence. They looked at one another, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true.”
- “We could live so easy and maybe have a girl.”
These quotes reflect the essence of Steinbeck’s characters, conveying the sadness, loneliness, dreams, and harsh realities of their lives. The dialogue between George and Lennie showcases their deep companionship and mutual dependence amid a harsh and unyielding world. The novel serves as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of human existence, bringing to the fore the tragedy and beauty of human connection.