Grapes of Wrath Quotes

In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.

And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands, it is taken away.

Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.

There is a crime here that goes beyond denunciation. There is a sorrow here that weeping cannot symbolize. There is a failure here that topples all our success.

The bank—and the company owns both—says get off their land. They want to breed their owns peas, then tomatoes, then work up to cabbage.

Muscles aching to work, minds aching to create—this is man.

All we got is the family unblessed by children.

Sometimes a guy’ll be a good guy even if some rich bastard makes him carry a sticker.

We ain’t dangerous no more. We ain’t fattenin’ on a crawlin’ land.

For man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

All people cannot choose how the future will develop.

Systems are beautiful and futile.

Grapes of Wrath Quotes part 2

It’s not that men are different, but times.

When a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.

It’s not the farming. It’s a lady. She can’t make no luck.

And wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there.

We know that the people are great-hearted.

We were from the dry side of Oregon where between each grain of soil there is a sack of stones.

In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.

We lost track of the land and it can’t get us back. She’s makin’ such a fuss because she’s notokin to go.

I’m learnin’ one thing good… Learnin’ it all a time now, ever’ day. If you’re in trouble or hurt or need—go to poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help—the only ones.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands, it is taken away.

They’s a time of change, an’ when that comes, dyin’ is a piece of all dyin’, and bearin’ is a piece of all bearin’, an’ bearin’ an’ dyin’ is two pieces of the same thing. An’ then things ain’t lonely any more.

There’s stuff in him—a feelin’ that there ain’t nothin’ in the world kin hurt him.

The structure was startled awake by a thud against it, and a pile-driver noise began in Gabilan Mountains, the trace ahead.

I tried and failed. I tried and died. A man can’t play at monopoly with earth and its creatures as men attempt it.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

I been thinkin’. If I c’ud go to work suckin’ up stuff free, I c’ud get enough for all you.

I been thinking about us, too, about our people living like pigs and good rich land layin’ fallow.

There ain’t no sin and there ain’t no virtue. There’s just stuff people do.

We take a cheap little weedy place ’cause the good land’s all gone.

Sometimes a fella ain’t got a soul of his own, just a little piece of a big soul, the one big soul that belongs to everybody.

Hell of a way to run a country.

We never knowed a place like this. Couldn’ we find a place like we come from?

You’re bound to get idears if you go thinkin’ about stuff.

People takin’ the law into their own hands.

When a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need.

Two is better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.

All of this is on account of we’re scared if we let ’em get a little bit they’ll take the whole thing.

The structure was startled awake and began to move. The whole structure creaked and groaned.

And when the waves of dust stopped rolling, they covered the men who lay on their backs looking upward.

Use’ ta run in the hills. Now you’re nerve back in town. You takea coat you don’ need an’ go a-figurin’.

We’ll never go hungry no more.