QIB – “Fear the time when the bombs stop falling”

For man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments. This you may say of man—when theories change and crash, when schools, philosophies, when narrow dark alleys of thought, national, religious, economic, grow and disintegrate, man reaches, stumbles forward, painfully, mistakenly sometimes. Having stepped forward, he may slip back, but only half a step, never the full step back. This you may say and know it and know it. This you may know when the bombs plummet out of the black planes on the market place, when prisoners are stuck like pigs, when the crushed bodies drain filthily in the dust. You may know it in this way. If the step were not being taken, if the stumbling-forward ache were not alive, the bombs would not fall, the throats would not be cut. Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live—for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died. And fear the time when the strikes stop while the great owners live—for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken. And this you can know—fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe.

John Steinbeck
Grapes of Wrath
Chapter 14, p.156-157

This is the first installment of what I will henceforth call a QIB (quote inspired blog). This is a rather a long quote, so I apologize, but this one of my all time favorite literary quotes. (Please read it though, or else the rest of this will have little relevance). It is from one of the most famous American authors, John Steinbeck who wrote Grapes of Wrath. This famous novel follows the journey of a rural family during the great dust bowl and Great Depression era of the 1920s-1930s and the plight of the migrant workers.

I find this quote a real thought-inducer, and very deep. I took out one of my favorite parts for the title: “Fear the time when the bombs stop falling.” It really is not what post people would expect. Although I do not entirely agree (I’m not sure what I do agree with, but it is so mind boggling).

Humans are blessed with a free will, the ability to think, to love, to rebel. What are we if we do not live and stand up for our beliefs? Although many hope to live peaceful uninterrupted lives, we should fear the point when the fighting stops, where there is no conflict going on in the world. It is the sign of the death of human spirit.
It is human spirit; nature that lives in every one of us. From the smallest notions of rebellion (not just violence) to the vehement feelings of righteousness, we are creatures with both abilities to love and to hate. It is when we settle for what life gives us and fall into stagnant lives that is the biggest crime.

Tags: Literature, Philosophy, QIB (quote inspired blog) | 3 Comments  

3 Responses to “QIB – “Fear the time when the bombs stop falling””

1. gem says:

   May 16, 2011 at 6:52 pm

   I loathe Steinbeck. This quote is such faulty logic. He’s saying that the bomb dropping is the half-step back, but that it means that there was a full step forward… why is the half-step necessary? I can allow that even a bomb is a sign that we’re moving, but it’s clearly not the right direction and there is zero evidence that it is a necessary movement. There’s no reason to fear the end of bombs dropping and did I mention that I loathe Steinbeck?

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   Cara Reply:
   May 16th, 2011 at 7:41 pm

   Haha. Well I give you props for being honest! Yep, I heard ya! He’s no by far my favorite author, but as books that you have to read in English, Grapes of Wrath was better than usual. I thought the quote was just interesting and though provoking. I never said that I totally agreed myself. See there though? A sign of human spirit right there. Your opinion. lol. Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

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2. Cami says:

   May 20, 2011 at 5:31 pm

   I think it is really neve-wrecking at first to stand for what you believe in, especially when you think that everyone will disagree with you.
   I do think that when everyone agrees with each other it will be the death of the human spirit but I also think it will be then end of the world. How can world wide agreement be accomplished without a standard set by someone and who says that that person can really be trusted?
   ______________
   I’m glad you like my layout. :)
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   I think that there are truths in other religions but that they were borrowed from God.

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