"No one wants advice - only corroboration"
About this Quote
A wry diagnosis of human nature, the line exposes how often people ask for guidance while really seeking permission to continue as planned. Advice implies the possibility of change, the admission that we might be wrong, and the risk of being told something we do not want to hear. Corroboration flatters the ego; it blesses our instincts, soothes our anxiety, and lets us keep moving without revising ourselves. Pride, fear of blame, and the discomfort of cognitive dissonance make confirmation feel like wisdom and correction feel like an affront.
Steinbeck knew these pressures well. Writing about ordinary Americans under strain, he watched families, towns, and work crews enforce belonging through approval and ridicule. Characters wrestle not only with hardship but with the gaze of others, and moral choices often hinge on whether the community nods along. The observation fits his wider moral landscape: people crave the warmth of agreement, and they rationalize their choices by collecting assent. If things go wrong, the chorus shares the blame; if they go right, the self takes the credit. Genuine counsel, by contrast, isolates. It asks for humility, responsibility, and the courage to act without a cheering section.
The line also anticipates realities that feel even sharper now. Social media algorithms and self-selected circles deliver constant corroboration, turning opinion into identity and dissent into a personal threat. We say we want honest feedback, but our habits train us to mute what challenges us and amplify what mirrors us.
Steinbeck is not merely cynical; there is a practical challenge tucked inside. If the goal is growth rather than comfort, we must invite advice that can actually change our minds and resist the easy relief of being told we were right all along. The real test of seeking counsel is whether we are prepared to act on it when it stings.
Steinbeck knew these pressures well. Writing about ordinary Americans under strain, he watched families, towns, and work crews enforce belonging through approval and ridicule. Characters wrestle not only with hardship but with the gaze of others, and moral choices often hinge on whether the community nods along. The observation fits his wider moral landscape: people crave the warmth of agreement, and they rationalize their choices by collecting assent. If things go wrong, the chorus shares the blame; if they go right, the self takes the credit. Genuine counsel, by contrast, isolates. It asks for humility, responsibility, and the courage to act without a cheering section.
The line also anticipates realities that feel even sharper now. Social media algorithms and self-selected circles deliver constant corroboration, turning opinion into identity and dissent into a personal threat. We say we want honest feedback, but our habits train us to mute what challenges us and amplify what mirrors us.
Steinbeck is not merely cynical; there is a practical challenge tucked inside. If the goal is growth rather than comfort, we must invite advice that can actually change our minds and resist the easy relief of being told we were right all along. The real test of seeking counsel is whether we are prepared to act on it when it stings.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
|---|
More Quotes by John
Add to List
