Lennie Small Quotes – Key Quotes Explained
(from Of Mice and Men)
Introduction
This page includes the most important Lennie Small quotes from Of Mice and Men, with detailed explanations of what each quote reveals about his character and the novel’s key themes, including innocence, friendship, strength, loneliness, and the American Dream.
These quotes are commonly used in high school English essays (Grades 9–10). Each explanation focuses on how Steinbeck presents Lennie as both gentle and dangerous, helping students understand how his innocence contributes to the novel’s tragedy.
Lennie Small Quotes About Innocence and Childlike Thinking
Quote 1
“I like to pet nice things.”
Expanded Explanation:
This simple statement immediately establishes Lennie’s childlike mindset. His use of the word “nice” suggests a basic, emotional response rather than a thoughtful or logical one. Steinbeck presents Lennie as someone who understands the world through touch and comfort, much like a child. However, this innocence is dangerous because Lennie does not understand his own strength. The quote foreshadows later events in the novel, showing how Lennie’s desire for comfort repeatedly leads to harm despite his lack of malicious intent.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote shows how Steinbeck presents Lennie as innocent but unaware of danger.
Quote 2
“Tell me about the rabbits, George.”
Expanded Explanation:
Lennie’s repeated request reflects his limited understanding and reliance on routine. He fixates on the rabbits because they represent comfort, safety, and happiness. Steinbeck uses repetition to show Lennie’s mental disability and his need for reassurance. The dream of the rabbits is not about wealth, but about pleasure and security, reinforcing Lennie’s innocence. This quote also highlights how Lennie depends on George to explain and control his understanding of the future.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote emphasizes Lennie’s childlike dependence on George.
Quote 3
“I didn’t mean no harm, George.”
Expanded Explanation:
This quote reveals Lennie’s lack of intent when he causes harm. His informal grammar and apologetic tone suggest confusion and fear rather than guilt. Steinbeck uses this line to show that Lennie does not understand the consequences of his actions. The phrase “didn’t mean” reinforces his innocence, making the reader sympathize with him even as the damage he causes becomes more severe. This contributes to the novel’s tragic tension.
Exam-ready sentence:
Steinbeck uses this quote to show that Lennie’s actions are unintentional rather than cruel.
Lennie Small Quotes About Strength and Danger
Quote 4
“I can still tend the rabbits, George?”
Expanded Explanation:
This quote shows Lennie’s misunderstanding of responsibility. Rather than grasping the seriousness of his actions, he focuses on whether he will lose access to the rabbits. Steinbeck highlights how Lennie associates punishment with loss of comfort rather than moral wrongdoing. The contrast between Lennie’s immense physical strength and his simple concerns reinforces the idea that power without understanding is dangerous. This moment also shows George’s role as both caretaker and judge.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote shows how Lennie fails to understand the consequences of his strength.
Quote 5
“Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice.”
Expanded Explanation:
Lennie compares larger creatures to mice, revealing his limited reasoning skills. Steinbeck uses this line to show how Lennie struggles to understand cause and effect. His confusion emphasizes the tragic pattern of accidental violence that follows him. By equating different animals, Lennie fails to recognize boundaries between safe and unsafe behavior. This highlights how his strength becomes destructive because it is uncontrolled by understanding.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote highlights Lennie’s inability to understand his own power.
Quote 6
“I done a bad thing.”
Expanded Explanation:
This short sentence shows Lennie’s awareness that something is wrong, even if he cannot fully understand why. The vague phrase “bad thing” suggests a childlike moral framework where actions are either good or bad without complexity. Steinbeck uses this moment to evoke sympathy, as Lennie recognizes guilt but lacks the capacity to correct his behavior. This realization increases the emotional impact of the novel’s climax.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote shows Lennie’s simple understanding of right and wrong.
Lennie Small Quotes About Friendship and Dependence
Quote 7
“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.”
Expanded Explanation:
This quote shows how Lennie understands friendship in simple, reciprocal terms. Steinbeck presents Lennie as emotionally dependent on George, but not selfish. Lennie believes friendship means mutual care, even if he contributes little practically. This reinforces the idea that Lennie values emotional connection deeply. The quote also highlights why Lennie feels safe with George, making the novel’s ending especially tragic.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote shows how Lennie values friendship and emotional security.
Quote 8
“George won’t go away and leave me.”
Expanded Explanation:
This statement shows Lennie’s fear of abandonment. Steinbeck uses this line to emphasize Lennie’s vulnerability and dependence. Lennie believes safety comes from proximity to George, reinforcing how isolated and helpless he would be alone. This fear of being left behind mirrors the wider theme of loneliness in the novel and makes Lennie’s eventual separation from George deeply tragic.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote highlights Lennie’s fear of loneliness and abandonment.
Lennie Small Quotes About Dreams and Hope
Quote 9
“An’ live on the fatta the lan’.”
Expanded Explanation:
This phrase shows Lennie’s idealized view of the American Dream. His focus on abundance reflects a childlike fantasy rather than a realistic goal. Steinbeck uses Lennie’s excitement to contrast hope with reality, as the dream is never achieved. Lennie’s version of the dream emphasizes comfort and pleasure rather than independence, reinforcing his innocence and limited understanding of adult aspirations.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote links Lennie to the theme of the American Dream as fantasy.
Quote 10
“I get to tend the rabbits.”
Expanded Explanation:
This repeated line shows that Lennie’s dream is narrow and comforting rather than ambitious. Rabbits symbolize softness, safety, and control—things Lennie lacks in real life. Steinbeck uses this obsession to show how Lennie clings to simple pleasures as emotional security. The repetition of this idea throughout the novel reinforces how dreams help characters cope with harsh realities.
Exam-ready sentence:
Steinbeck uses this quote to show how Lennie’s dreams are simple and comforting.
Lennie Small Quotes About Fear and Punishment
Quote 11
“George gonna say I done a bad thing.”
Expanded Explanation:
This quote reveals Lennie’s fear of judgment rather than justice. He worries about George’s reaction, showing how George represents authority and safety in his life. Steinbeck presents Lennie as childlike, fearing disappointment more than consequences. This reinforces the power imbalance in their relationship and highlights Lennie’s emotional dependence.
Exam-ready sentence:
This quote shows Lennie’s fear of disappointing George.
How to Use Lennie Small Quotes in an Essay
When writing about Lennie, focus on how Steinbeck presents him as innocent but dangerous. Always link quotes to themes such as friendship, loneliness, strength, and the American Dream.
Example:
Steinbeck presents Lennie as innocent when he says, “I like to pet nice things,” but this innocence ultimately leads to tragedy.
Useful sentence starters:
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This quote suggests that…
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Steinbeck presents Lennie as…
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This reflects the theme of…
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lennie responsible for his actions?
Lennie is not fully responsible because he lacks understanding, but his actions still have serious consequences.
Why is Lennie dangerous?
Lennie is dangerous because he has great physical strength without the mental capacity to control it.
What does Lennie represent?
Lennie represents innocence destroyed by a harsh and unforgiving society.
Related Pages
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Themes in Of Mice and Men
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Friendship in Of Mice and Men