East of Eden quotes

The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay.

I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers.

You can boast about anything if it's all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.

But 'Thou mayest'! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.

We are all descended from the restless, the nervous, the criminals, the arguers and brawlers, but also the brave and independent and generous.