All great and precious things are lonely.

There is nothing pleasanter than spading when the ground is soft and damp.

I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for that is one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system. Surely I can understand this, and I hate it and I will fight against it to preserve the one thing that separates us from the uncreative beasts. If the glory can be killed, we are lost.

it was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials.

People are felt rather than seen after the first few moments.

When you know a friend is there you do not go to see him. Then he's gone and you blast your conscience to shreds that you did not see him.

I wrote The Grapes of Wrath in one hundred days, but many years of preparation preceded it.