George Milton is one of the main characters in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men.
He is a complex character, and his quotes reveal much about his personality.
In this article, we’ll look at 25 of the best George Milton quotes from Of Mice and Men with page numbers for context.
50 Of Mice And Men Quotes With Page Numbers
George Milton Personality
George Milton is an intelligent and hardworking man. Although he is short, his quick movements, sharp eyes, and strong features give him an intimidating presence.
He always looks out for his best friend Lennie and has a great sense of loyalty and responsibility. He is a moral person willing to put himself at risk to protect those he cares about.
Despite his difficult circumstances, George is determined and strong-willed. He is resilient in the face of adversity and never gives up hope.
George’s compassion and understanding of the struggles of others demonstrate his empathetic nature.
25 Best George Milton Quotes And Page Numbers
1. “You never oughta drink water when it ain’t runnin’.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 3
Meaning: This quote from George Milton in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men conveys that it’s usually best to wait for an opportunity instead of trying to force it, as water does not flow unless something is done to make it happen.
Their situation is stagnant. They have no choice but to take whatever work they can get.
2. “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, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 5
Meaning: This quote from George to Lennie demonstrates his strong sense of loyalty and love for his friend.
He shows how much he cares for Lennie by reassuring him that he never had a work card and taking responsibility for it, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to protecting his companion.
3. “O.K.,” said George. “An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither.”
Lennie looked puzzled. “Like I done in Weed?”
“Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya? Well, I ain’t gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again.”
A light of understanding broke on Lennie’s face.
“They run us outa Weed,” he exploded triumphantly.
“Run us out, hell,” said George disgustedly. “We run. They was lookin’ for us, but they didn’t catch us.”
Lennie giggled happily. “I didn’t forget that, you bet.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton and Lennie Small, Chapter 1, Page 7
Meaning: In this quote, George reminds Lennie that their lives are constantly at risk of discovery and that he must remember not to do anything that could get them into trouble again, like what happened in Weed.
He emphasizes the importance of Lennie following his instructions so they can stay safe and remain together.
4. “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, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 7
Meaning: This quote from George reflects his desire for a life of freedom and his frustration with having to look after Lennie. He longs for a life of ease and possibly having a romantic relationship.
Still, he knows that his responsibility to Lennie will always keep him from achieving his own dreams.
5. “Aw, Lennie!” George put his hand on Lennie’s shoulder. “
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 9
Meaning: The quote from George Milton speaks to his unwavering devotion to Lennie and their deep bond. It highlights their emotional connection and George’s unconditional love and care for his companion.
Of Mice and Men Friendship Quotes With Page Numbers
6. “Trouble with mice is you always kill ’em. ”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 13
Meaning: George Milton’s quote highlights the fragility and vulnerability of the dreams he and Lennie share and how quickly they can be lost.
The quote suggests that their pursuit of happiness and freedom is in danger of being taken away, just like the life of a mouse.
7. “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.
They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 1, Pages 13, 14
Meaning: George Milton’s quote reveals the hard, lonely reality of life on the ranch, as he explains that many workers are stuck in a cycle of labor and poverty with nothing to look forward to.
8. “With us it ain’t like that. We got a future.
We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 14
Meaning: George Milton’s quote emphasizes the importance of friendship and companionship and how they can provide a sense of security and hope for the future.
He reflects on the loneliness of most ranch hands and acknowledges that he and Lennie have something special to help them through the difficult times.
Of Mice and Men Dream Quotes With Page Numbers
9. “we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 14
Meaning: George’s quote from Of Mice and Men displays his determination to achieve the American Dream, a life of independence and security, which he and Lennie will share.
Despite their difficulties, George believes they can build a better life by working hard and saving to buy a small plot of land, livestock, and a place.
10. “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, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 15
Meaning: This quote from George in Of Mice and Men demonstrates his deep feelings of loyalty and friendship towards Lennie.
He is willing to risk helping Lennie hide if he gets into trouble, showing that he will always be there for his best friend no matter what. It could also foreshadow George’s thoughts that he may have to leave Lennie if he gets in serious trouble.
11. “We travel together,” said George coldly.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George, Chapter 2, Page 25
Meaning: George Milton’s quote emphasizes the strong bond between himself and Lennie and their commitment to stay together no matter what.
Despite hardships and difficulties, they are determined to stick together and achieve their dream of owning a farm.
12. “For two bits I’d shove out of here.
If we can get jus’ a few dollars in the poke we’ll shove off and go up the American River and pan gold. We can make maybe a couple of dollars a day there, and we might hit a pocket.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George, Chapter 2, Page 25
Meaning: George’s quote reflects his hope for a better future and his determination to pursue the American Dream of achieving financial success and stability.
He is willing to leave the ranch in search of the possibility of finding gold and making a living from it.
13. “Ya know, Lennie, I’m scared I’m gonna tangle with that bastard myself. I hate his guts. ! Come on. There won’t be a damn thing left to eat.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George, Chapter 2, Pages 36-37
Meaning: In this quote, George expresses his anger and frustration towards their employer’s son, Curley, and his fear of confronting him.
He also expresses his determination to ensure Lennie does not go hungry, prompting him to take action.
14. “He ain’t no cuckoo,” said George. “He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy. An’ I ain’t so bright neither, or I wouldn’t be buckin’ barley for my fifty and found.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 39
Meaning: In this quote, George expresses his frustration with his circumstances while showing compassion for his friend Lennie.
He acknowledges that while Lennie may not be the brightest person, he is not mentally ill and can understand what is happening around him.
George also admits that he is not particularly intelligent and is stuck in a job that pays him very little.
15. “If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ’stead of doin’ all the work and not getting what comes up outta the ground.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 39
Meaning: George Milton’s quote expresses his frustration at his current situation and desire to improve.
He highlights that if he were a little smarter, he would have the opportunity to own his own land and reap the rewards of his hard work instead of just working for someone else and not getting anything in return.
16. “It ain’t so funny, him an’ me goin’ aroun’ together,”
George said at last. “Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Pages 40-41
Meaning: George explains the unlikely bond between himself and Lennie, which was formed from a shared experience of being born in the same place and cared for by the same person.
They were thrown together out of necessity but eventually grew to rely on each other.
17. “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, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 41
Meaning: This quote from George Milton highlights the loneliness and isolation of the ranch hands working on their own without a companion.
George emphasizes the importance of companionship and friendship to avoid becoming mean and aggressive due to the lack of it.
This quote is important because it shows the strong bond between George and Lennie and why they are so devoted to each other.
18. “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, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 41
Meaning: George’s quote reflects his acceptance of Lennie despite his difficulties and nuisance-causing behavior.
He has come to recognize the importance of their bond and the strength of their companionship, even if it means he cannot escape the responsibility of caring for Lennie.
19. “Hell, no. He just scared her. I’d be scared too if he grabbed me. But he never hurt her. He jus’ wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 42
Meaning: George defends Lennie’s actions towards the girl in Weed, saying that he was just scared and trying to touch her dress like he does with puppies and didn’t mean to hurt her.
This shows that George is aware of Lennie’s mental state and is understanding of his innocence, even though Lennie is often a nuisance.
20. “You give me a good whore house every time,” he said.
“A guy can go in an’ get drunk and get ever’thing outta his system all at once, an’ no messes. And he knows how much it’s gonna set him back. These here jail baits is just set on the trigger of the hoosegow.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 56
Meaning: George views women as something to be bought and used for gratification. He believes going to a brothel is a more convenient and reliable way of getting what he wants than getting involved with jail bait women who can land him in jail.
This could result from always being in trouble because of Lennie’s actions.
21. “I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 59
Meaning:
George’s quote conveys his willingness to accept help to fulfill their dream of owning a farm and his reluctance to give up the dream of achieving it all on their own.
He is unsure if he wants to open the shared dream up to someone else and if it will still be possible for the two of them to reach their goal.
22. “George said wonderingly, ‘S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, . . .
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, George Milton, Chapter 3, Pages 60-61
Meaning: George’s quote reflects his longing for freedom and autonomy.
Despite his current situation of caring for Lennie, he can imagine a future in which he and Lennie can make choices and do things to their liking without seeking permission or approval.
23. “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, George Milton, Chapter 5, Page 98
Meaning: In this quote, George shows his loyalty and compassion for Lennie by asking Curley not to shoot him, recognizing that Lennie doesn’t know what he is doing and is not in control of himself.
He also is thinking about how Candy didn’t dare to put down his own dog.
24. “Guys like us got nothing to look ahead to.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 6, Page 104
Meaning: George’s quote highlights the futility of the lives of the working-class men in the book.
He points out that they are stuck in a cycle of working and spending their wages, with no real hope of ever achieving a better life or having something to look forward to.
25. “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, George Milton, Chapter 6, Page 104
Meaning: This quote from George conveys his deep loyalty and care for Lennie, emphasizing the strong bond of friendship and companionship that the two share.
Despite their disagreements, in his final message to Lenny, George wants to clarify to Lennie that he has never been and will never be mad at him.
George Milton Quotes About Lennie
“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, George Milton about Lennie, Chapter 1, Page 7
“He ain’t no cuckoo,” said George. “He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy. An’ I ain’t so bright neither, or I wouldn’t be buckin’ barley for my fifty and found.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton about Lennie, 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, George Milton about Lennie, Chapter 3, Page 41
“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, George Milton about Lennie, Chapter 5, Page 98
Need more quotes about Lennie Small?
I’ve written another post about 15 Lennie Small quotes and explanations.
What is the quote George said in Of Mice and Men?
“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, George Milton, Chapter 1, Page 7
How does George relate to Lennie quotes?
“Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George Milton, Chapter 3, Pages 40-41
Why does George shoot Lennie?
George shoots Lennie to protect him from further harm, as he had already caused so much trouble, and Curley had threatened to kill him.
George also knows that killing him with a gunshot to the head will be a quick and painless death, so he takes responsibility for Lennie and those around them and makes the difficult decision to shoot him.
What does George say before killing Lennie?
“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, George Milton, Chapter 6, Page 104
What is Lennie and George’s dream quote?
“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, George Milton, Chapter 3, Page 58
What does George always tell Lennie?
“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.”
~John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, George to Lennie, Chapter 1, Pages 13, 14
What 3 things does George say he could do if he was alone?
George says he could “live so easy,” “and maybe have a girl,” “have his own little place,”
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