Quotation by

John Steinbeck

It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meannes

John Steinbeck

Men

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

John Steinbeck is pointing out that qualities like kindness and honesty, which we usually respect in people, are actually seen as weaknesses in society. Meanwhile, traits such as being clever, greedy, and selfish, which we often dislike, are rewarded and lead to success.

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