24 Of Mice and Men Quotes to Inspire You to Keep Your Head Up
These Of Mice and Men quotes will inspire you to keep working towards that goal, and to seek out the support of others that can help you get through it.
If you haven’t read Of Mice and Men, know that this book has several important messages for the reader.
And even though this book by John Steinback dates back to the 1930s, the storyline, the characters, and the setting are all relevant today, albeit the circumstances were a bit different.
This book talks about life during the Great Depression, and how seeking out job opportunities so that you can survive, can lead to severe loneliness but also create friendships in the darkest of times.
These Of Mice and Men quotes don’t do the book justice, but they do offer a glimpse into motivational words to help you keep your head up and stay positive, even if it feels like you’re going at it alone.
We also have a collection of Animal Farm quotes that will remind you to always check your privilege. Be sure to also read that.
If you need more inspirational quotes, check out our motivational quotes category page.
Of Mice and Men Quotes on Friendship
1. “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
2. “Lennie—if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush… Hide in the brush till I come for you.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
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3. “A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
4. “Lennie said, ‘I thought you was mad at me, George.’ ” ‘No,’ said George. ‘No, Lennie, I ain’t mad. I never been mad, and I ain’ now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.′ ” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
5. “It ain’t so funny, him an’ me goin’ aroun’ together,” George said at last. “Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
6. “Lennie said quietly, “It ain’t no lie. We’re gonna do it. Gonna get a little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
7. “George can tell you screwy things, and it don’t matter. It’s just the talking. . . . That’s all.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
8. “But you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
9. “Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
10. “I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.” “If it was here, you could have some.” “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.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
11. “And it’d be our own, an’ nobody could can us. . . . An’ if a fren’ come along, why we’d have an extra bunk, an’ we’d say, ‘Why don’t you spen’ the night?′ An’ . . . he would.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men Quotes on Hard Work
12. “We’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof – nuts!” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
13. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
14. “He moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsman. He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler’s butt with a bull whip without touching the mule.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
15. “There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke, His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
16. “Then—it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily. George didn’t answer his question. George said, “I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house. Or I’ll set in some poolroom til ever’body goes home. An’ then I’ll come back an’ work another month an’ I’ll have fifty bucks more.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
17. “George—why ain’t we goin’ on to the ranch and get some supper? They got supper at the ranch. George rolled on his side. “No reason at all for you. I like it here. Tomorra we’re gonna go to work. I seen thrashin’ machines on the way down. That means we’ll be bucking grain bags, bustin’ a gut.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men Quotes on Loneliness
18. “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
19. “I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain’t no good. They don’t have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin’ to fight all the time.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
20. “George’s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before. ‘Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
21. “Guys like us got nothing to look ahead to.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
22. ″‘Come on in and set a while,’ Crooks said. ‘Long as you won’t get out and leave me alone, you might as well set down.‘” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
23. “A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin’ books or thinkin’ or stuff like that.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
24. “If I catch any one man, and he’s alone, I get along fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an’ you won’t talk. Jus’ nothing but mad. You’re all scared of each other, that’s what. Ever’ one of you’s scared the rest is goin’ to get something on you.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
What did you learn from these Of Mice and Men quotes?
Of Mice and Men is a story of its time, but still has many themes that are timeless.
The hardships of life during the Great Depression were not unique from other difficult periods in history, when people may have had unfathomable struggles.
Whether it was the recession, war, famine, a combination of these difficulties and ultimately immigrating to another country to try a hand at a better life, we never really know what someone else is going through.
Working towards a dream may mean a lot of obstacles, isolation, and ultimately, depression.
Sometimes, it’s enough to want to throw in the towel and give it all up.
Hopefully, these Of Mice and Men quotes will inspire you to keep working towards that goal, and to seek out the support of others that can help you get through it.
What’s your biggest takeaway from these Of Mice and Men quotes?
Do you have any other favorite quotes to add?
Let us know in the comment section below.
