Quotes from book
East of Eden

East of Eden

East of Eden is a novel by Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck, published in September 1952. Often described as Steinbeck's most ambitious novel, East of Eden brings to life the intricate details of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and their interwoven stories. The novel was originally addressed to Steinbeck's young sons, Thom and John . Steinbeck wanted to describe the Salinas Valley for them in detail: the sights, sounds, smells and colors.


John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo

“All great and precious things are lonely.”

Source: East of Eden

John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo

“I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.”

Variant: My father said she was a strong woman, and I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is almost indestructible.
Source: East of Eden

John Steinbeck photo

“My imagination will get me a passport to hell one day.”

Source: East of Eden

John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo

“I wonder how many people I have looked at all my life and never really seen.”

Variant: I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen.
Source: East of Eden

John Steinbeck photo

“No one who is young is ever going to be old.”

Source: East of Eden

John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo

“Maybe-- maybe love makes you suspicious and doubting. Is it true that when you love a woman you are never sure-- never sure of her because you aren't sure of yourself?”

Source: East of Eden (1952)
Context: Maybe that's the reason," Adam said slowly, feeling his way. "Maybe if I had loved him I would have been jealous of him. You were. Maybe-maybe love makes you suspicious and doubting. Is it true that when you love a woman you are never sure-never sure of her because you aren't sure of yourself? I can see it pretty clearly. I can see how you loved him and what it did to you. I did not love him. Maybe he loved me. He tested me and hurt me and punished me and finally he sent me out like a sacrifice, maybe to make up for something. But he did not love you, and so he had faith in you. Maybe — why, maybe it's a kind of reverse.

John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck photo

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