He’s a guardian burdened by love, a dreamer shackled by responsibility.
George Milton, the sharp-witted, weary guardian of Lennie Small in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, carries the weight of their shared dream and the constant threat of its destruction.
Torn between exasperation and deep affection, George navigates the harsh landscape of migrant work while fiercely protecting his vulnerable companion.
His words reveal a mix of pragmatism, simmering resentment, profound loyalty, and a desperate longing for a place to call home.
Explore the heart and mind of this complex character through 30 essential quotes. Witness his careful planning, frustration, defense of Lennie, and the impossible choice he faces, all presented with analysis and page numbers.
The Weight of Responsibility & Resentment
George’s life is defined by his care for Lennie, a bond that offers companionship but also fuels moments of intense frustration and a yearning for personal freedom.
“God, you’re a lot of trouble,” said George. “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Burden, Dreams, Conflict, Resentment, Chapter 1, Page 7)
This raw outburst reveals constant internal conflict – George’s desire for a normal, unburdened life clashing with his deep-seated responsibility for Lennie.
“You never had none, you crazy bastard. I got both of ’em here. Think I’d let you carry your own work card?”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Responsibility, Caretaking, Protective Nature, Chapter 1, Page 5)
“When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Frustration, Burden, Lost Freedom, Chapter 1, Page 13)
George directly voices the immense personal cost of his commitment to Lennie, highlighting the constant vigilance and sacrifice required.
“I ain’t so bright neither, or I wouldn’t be buckin’ barley for my fifty and found.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Self-Awareness, Dissatisfaction, Trapped by Circumstance, Chapter 3, Page 39)
“Course Lennie’s a… nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Acceptance, Burden, Companionship, Resignation, Chapter 3, Page 41)
“I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, reacting to Candy’s offer, Theme: Hesitation, Possessiveness of the Dream, Independence, Chapter 3, Page 59)
George’s initial reaction reveals how personal the dream is, conceived as an escape solely for himself and Lennie, making the inclusion of another a significant shift.
Despite the burden, George clings to the dream of a small farm, a vision of independence and belonging that sustains him and Lennie.
The Dream as Escape and Hope
The shared dream of owning land represents freedom, self-determination, and an escape from the lonely, precarious life of a migrant worker.
“we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: The Dream, Hope, Simplicity, Independence, Chapter 1, Page 14)
George outlines the core elements of their modest dream – not wealth, but security, self-sufficiency, and a place to belong.
“With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us… But not us.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Friendship, Dreams, Hope, Exceptionalism, Chapter 1, Page 14)
“Well,” said George, “we’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof – Nuts!”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: The Dream, Freedom, Comfort, Security, Chapter 1, Page 16)
George elaborates on the dream, emphasizing the freedom from demanding labor and the simple comforts their own place would provide.
“An’ we could have a few pigs. I could build a smoke house like the one gran’pa had, an’ when we kill a pig we can smoke the bacon and the hams, and make sausage an’ all like that.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: The Dream, Self-Sufficiency, Tradition, Chapter 3, Page 58)
“Sure, we’d have a little house an’ a room to ourself. Little fat iron stove, an’ in the winter we’d keep a fire goin’ in it. It ain’t enough land so we’d have to work too hard. Maybe six, seven hours a day. We wouldn’t have to buck no barley eleven hours a day. An’ when we put in a crop, why, we’d be there to take the crop up. We’d know what come of our planting.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: The Dream, Modesty, Dignity of Labor, Control, Chapter 3, Page 59)
George details the dream’s appeal: manageable work, ownership, and seeing the direct results of their labor, contrasting with their current exploited existence.
“George said reverently, “Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her.” His eyes were full of wonder. “I bet we could swing her,” he repeated softly.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, after Candy offers his money, Theme: Hope Renewed, Possibility, Wonder, Chapter 3, Page 61)
Candy’s contribution transforms the dream from a distant fantasy into a tangible possibility, briefly filling George with genuine hope and wonder.
“We’d just go to her . . . We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus’ say, ‘We’ll go to her,’ an’ we would. Jus’ milk the cow and sling some grain to the chickens an’ go to her.’”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: The Dream, Autonomy, Freedom, Independence, Chapter 3, Pages 60-61)
George’s world-weariness manifests in a sharp pragmatism, a constant vigilance required to navigate dangers and protect Lennie.
Pragmatism and Protective Instincts
Facing the harsh realities of their world and Lennie’s vulnerability, George operates with caution, foresight, and a fierce protectiveness.
“You never oughta drink water when it ain’t runnin’.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Practicality, Caution, Experience, Chapter 1, Page 3)
“O.K.! Now you listen and this time you got to remember so we don’t get in no trouble. You remember settin’ in that gutter on Howard Street and watchin’ that blackboard?”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Instruction, Preventing Trouble, Foresight, Chapter 1, Page 6)
“Now, look – I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we’re set. Ya got that?”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Strategy, Protection, Deception for Survival, Chapter 1, Page 8)
George meticulously plans their interactions to mitigate the risk posed by Lennie’s disability, understanding the need for careful management.
“Lennie—if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush… Hide in the brush till I come for you.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Foresight, Contingency Planning, Protection, Chapter 1, Page 15)
George establishes a crucial safety plan, implicitly acknowledging the high probability of Lennie causing trouble despite his best intentions.
“Well, you keep away from her, ’cause she’s a rattrap if I ever seen one.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, about Curley’s wife, Theme: Warning, Danger Perception, Misogyny?, Protection, Chapter 2, Page 34)
“Look, Lennie. You try to keep away from him, will you? Don’t never speak to him. If he comes in here you move clear to the other side of the room.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, about Curley, Theme: Protection, Avoiding Conflict, Strategy, Chapter 2, Page 31)
“Don’t let him pull you in-but-if the son-of-abitch socks you-let ‘im have it.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Conditional Violence, Protection, Last Resort, Chapter 2, Page 31)
“You give me a good whore house every time… These here jail baits is just set on the trigger of the hoosegow.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Cynicism, Danger Assessment, Fear of Complication, Chapter 3, Page 56)
Despite their harsh lives, moments of genuine connection and George’s underlying loyalty reveal the depth of their bond, contrasting with the pervasive loneliness around them.
Moments of Connection and Loneliness
George’s words often highlight the isolation of ranch life and the unique, if difficult, companionship he shares with Lennie.
“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world… They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Loneliness, Migrant Life, Despair, Chapter 1, Pages 13-14)
“With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us… But not us.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Friendship, Hope, Belonging, Chapter 1, Page 14)
“We travel together,” said George coldly.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Solidarity, Defiance of Norms, Loyalty, Chapter 2, Page 25)
George’s curt reply to Curley affirms their partnership as a fundamental fact, distinct from the transient relationships common on the ranch.
“It ain’t so funny, him an’ me goin’ aroun’ together,” George said at last.
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Defensiveness, Understanding the Bond, Justification, Chapter 3, Pages 40-41)
“I ain’t got no people… I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain’t no good. They don’t have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin’ to fight all the time.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Loneliness, Effects of Isolation, Need for Companionship, Chapter 3, Page 41)
George explains his rationale for staying with Lennie, contrasting their situation with the grim reality of solitary workers.
The novella culminates in George facing the ultimate test of his loyalty and pragmatism, forced into a situation demanding a devastating choice.
Facing Impossible Choices
After Lennie’s final, tragic mistake, George confronts the destruction of their dream and must make a profound decision born of love, despair, and a harsh understanding of the world’s cruelty.
“I should of knew… I guess maybe way back in my head I did.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, finding Curley’s wife, Theme: Regret, Foresight, Inevitability, Chapter 5, Page 93)
George acknowledges a deep-seated, perhaps subconscious, awareness that Lennie’s nature made tragedy almost inevitable, despite their dreams.
“-I think I knowed from the very first I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Lost Hope, Realism, The Power of the Dream, Chapter 5, Page 94)
In the face of disaster, George admits the dream was perhaps always more Lennie’s hope than a practical reality he truly believed possible.
“I ain’t gonna let ’em hurt Lennie. Now you listen. The guys might think I was in on it. I’m gonna go in the bunk house. Then in a minute you come out and tell the guys about her, and I’ll come along and make like I never seen her.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Protection, Strategy, Deception, Loyalty, Chapter 5, Page 94)
“Yeah,” said George. “I’ll come. But listen, Curley. The poor bastard’s nuts. Don’t shoot ‘im. He di’n’t know what he was doin’.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Protection, Pleading, Understanding Lennie’s State, Chapter 5, Page 98)
“No,” said George. “No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton, Theme: Final Comfort, Mercy, Forgiveness, Love, Chapter 6, Page 104)
George’s final words to Lennie are an act of ultimate compassion, ensuring Lennie’s last moments are filled with reassurance, not fear.
“And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: George Milton / Narrator, Theme: Mercy Killing, Sacrifice, Love, Tragedy, Chapter 6, Page 106)
This stark description captures the immense difficulty and resolve required for George’s final act of protection, a devastating choice made out of love to prevent a worse fate for Lennie.
The Burden and Heart of George Milton
George Milton embodies the weary pragmatism and enduring loyalty forged in the face of overwhelming hardship.
His quotes reveal a constant battle between his desires for freedom and his profound, protective bond with Lennie. He is the voice of reason, the keeper of a fragile dream, and ultimately, the agent of a heartbreaking mercy.
Through George, Steinbeck explores the depths of friendship, the weight of responsibility, and the crushing realities that often stand between ordinary people and their hopes for a better life.
Compare George’s pragmatic worldview with quotes capturing Lennie’s contrasting innocence.
A Note on Page Numbers & Edition (Handle With Care!):
We hauled these quotes from the Penguin Books Mass Market Paperback edition (September 1, 1993), ISBN-13: 978-0140177398. Please be aware that page numbers, like the cards George deals himself, can shift with each new printing! Always double-check against your copy for essays or citations – you want your points clear, not lost like Lennie’s work card if George let Lennie carry it.
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the AAM framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.