25 The Winter of Our Discontent Quotes that Make You Think

These Winter of Our Discontent quotes are from the novel written by John Steinbeck. 

Steinbeck published the novel in 1961, the last one he ever wrote.

The book provides an in-depth look into American society during the post-World War II era, including its values, attitudes, and social norms.

Tell us your favorite The Winter of Our Discontent quote in the comments section below!

Why you should read The Winter of Our Discontent quotes 

Reading The Winter of Our Discontent quotes provides insight into American society, human nature, and the complexities of the human experience.

Highly relatable, these quotes will help you not feel alone in your own experiences of sadness, suffering, and discontent. 

The Winter of Our Discontent features complex characters who undergo significant personal growth throughout the story. 

The main characters in the book include:

  • Ethan Allen Hawley, a grocery clerk 
  • Mary Hawley, Ethan’s wife
  • Margie Young-Hunt,  Mary’s seductive friend
  • Mr. Baker – Ethan’s friend and a banker
  • Alfio Marullo, the Italian immigrant owner of the grocery store

By reading the book, you can better understand human nature and the motivations behind people’s actions.

Steinbeck raises important ethical questions about integrity, morality, and the American Dream in the novel. 

A major theme in The Winter of Our Discontent is societal pressure’s effect on people.  

Through its portrayal of a man who struggles with this and other issues, the book encourages readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values.

The book is considered a classic of American literature and has been widely read and studied for its themes and insights into human nature.

At first, it received mixed reviews from critics and was not so well received in America. 

However, many literary critics changed their views on the book as its honest depiction of the American condition became more apparent over time. 

Top 5 short quotes from The Winter of Our Discontent

These top 5 short The Winter of Our Discontent quotes are a fast and easy read.

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1. “To be alive at all is to have scars.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

2. “Intention, good or bad, is not enough.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

3. “Can you honestly love a dishonest thing?” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

4. “If you want to keep a friend, never test him.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

5. “All men are moral. Only their neighbors are not.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontenthe Winter of Our Discontent

Wise The Winter of Our Discontent quotes about life 

Enjoy reading these wise The Winter of Our Discontent quotes about life!

6. “We can shoot rockets into space, but we can’t cure anger or discontent. ” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

7. “I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget it.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

8. “I know three things will never be believed – the true, the probable, and the logical.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

9. “I guess I’m trying to say, grab anything that goes by. It may not come around again.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

10. “You know how advice is – you only want it if it agrees with what you wanted to do anyways.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

Inspirational quotes from The Winter of Our Discontent

These inspirational quotes from The Winter of Our Discontent for tough times will uplift you if you feel low.

11. “A day, a livelong day, is not one thing but many.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

12. “It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

13. “People who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves they don’t dream at all.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

14. “Failure is a state of mind. It’s like one of those sand traps an ant lion digs. You keep sliding back. Takes one hell of a jump to get out of it.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

15. “Farewell has a sweet sound of reluctance. Good-by is short and final, a word with teeth sharp to bite through the string that ties past to the future.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

Quotes about politics and society from The Winter of Our Discontent

The Winter of Our Discontent quotes about politics and society prove that some things never change. 

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16. “Like most modern people, I don’t believe in prophecy or magic and then spend half my time practicing it.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

17. “There’s an awful lot of inactive kindness which is nothing but laziness, not wanting any trouble, confusion, or effort.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

18. “In poverty, she is envious. In riches, she may be a snob. Money does not change the sickness, only the symptoms.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

19. “So many old and lovely things are stored in the world’s attic because we don’t want them around us and we don’t dare throw them out.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

20. “You know most people live ninety percent in the past, seven percent in the present, and that only leaves them three percent for the future.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

The Winter of Our Discontent quotes about God, morality, and people

Examine your own morals and beliefs with The Winter of Our Discontent quotes about God, morality, and people. 

21. “For the most part, people are not curious except about themselves.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

22. “I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

23. “Only God sees the sparrow fall, but even God doesn’t do anything about it.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

24. “No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

25. “What a frightening thing is the human, a mass of gauges and dials and registers, and we can only read a few and those perhaps not accurately.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck is one of the greatest authors of all time

Steinbeck was a master of the written word.

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His writing is known for its ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in a straightforward manner.

Steinbeck had a keen eye for the details of everyday life and was able to bring the stories of ordinary people to life in a way that was both honest and empathetic, as proven in The Winter of Our Discontent

His work has significantly impacted American culture and continues to be widely read and studied in schools and universities. 

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.

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