John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck, (1902-1968) Author, Nobel laureate

John Steinbeck Quote

“And this I must fight against: any idea, religion or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about. I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for this is the one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system.”

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck
~ John Steinbeck

East of Eden, 1952

Ratings and Comments


Elce, Chicago

I loved this quote so much. I made it a permenant part of my email signature.

J Carlton, Calgary

To limit the individual is to stifle innovation.

cal, lewisville, tx

Individualism is mankinds greatest aspect.

Anon
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Anon    3/30/10

To create innovation, free the individual that rests beneath the surface of of every single human being.

E Archer, NYC

Once the mind has expanded, it never returns to its original size...

Elisabeth, Astoria, NY

It's nice to have friends and live in society, as long as we can preserve our individualism, which was gift from Nature.

Judith, New Mexico

That is why we have a "free press", and propagandized television to stifle the mind and keep it from knowing realizing the "pattern to destroy the free mind". Too bad so few people refuse to look and see critically, else they would learn what is going on. Analytical minds are scary cause people might call one an anarchist, or "belligerent" or "conspiracy nut".

RBESRQ
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RBESRQ    3/30/10

And it will... Archer, I must disagree as present conditions prove.

Bette, Newport

All thoughts have been thought before?

Mike, Norwalk

I'm not quite sure how to rate this. I agree with the general underlying premiss, (-; BUT :-) to fight against such a multi-headed monster is more an exercise in futility than truly progressing the species. By way of example, this nation's initiating brain trust found it easier to limit what the servants could do rather than limit what they could not do. The servant quickly became the carnal god/master by resorting to the individual sovereigns could do nothing unless it was approved by the government. The current occupying statist theocracy infesting this land (government) is the multi-headed beast that has a never-ending flow of ideas, religions, government's, etc. to "destroy the free mind".

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