Quotations from *Cup of Gold*, 1 of 11
John Steinbeck
1902-1968 American

Often he wearily considered his existence, ringed around with little defeats which mocked it as street children torment a cripple. It was strange to Old Robert that he, who knew so much more than his neighbors, who had pondered so endlessly, should be not even a good farmer. Sometimes he imagined he understood too many things ever to do anything well.
—John Steinbeck, Cup of Gold

He lay propped on one elbow and stared past the fire into his thoughts. The long gray afternoon, piercing to this mysterious night, had called up strong yearnings in him, the seeds of which were planted months before. It was a desire for a thing he could not name.
—John Steinbeck, Cup of Gold

Young Henry was conscious, this night, that he had lived on for fifteen tedious years without accomplishing any single thing of importance.
—John Steinbeck, Cup of Gold

“But, Robert, there’s something gone out of me like a little winking light. I used to lie on the decks of ships at night and think and think how I’d talk and boast when only I came home again—but it’s more like a child, I am, come home to cry. Can you understand that, Robert? Can you understand that at all?”
—John Steinbeck, Cup of Gold