The Loneliness of Ranch Life:

“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place.”

The Power of Friendship:

“With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.”

The Looming Threat of Curley:

“His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.”

The Presence of Slim:

“He moved with a majesty achieved only by royalty and master craftsmen. He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch…”

Slim’s Defense of Lennie:

“He ain’t mean. I can see Lennie ain’t a bit mean. He’s a nice fella. A guy don’t need no sense to be a nice fella.”

Candy’s Regret:

“I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.”

Crooks on Isolation:

“A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. I tell ya, a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.”

The Futility of Dreams:

“I see hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bundles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads… every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em gets it.”

Curley’s Wife Confiding Her Past:

“I married Curley. I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice guy… I coulda made something of myself. … Maybe I coulda been in the movies.”

George Realizing the Dream is Dead:

“I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He used to like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.”

George’s Last Compassionate Lie:

“No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.”

Slim’s Final Consolation:

“You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me.”