“Oh, we can populate the dark with horrors, even we who think ourselves informed and sure, believing nothing we cannot measure or weigh. I knew beyond all doubt that the dark things crowding in on me either did not exist or were not dangerous to me, and still I was afraid. I thought how terrible the nights must have been in a time when men knew the things were there and were deadly. But no, that's wrong. If I knew they were there, I would have weapons against them, charms, prayers, some kind of alliance with forces equally strong but on my side. Knowing they were not there made me defenseless against them and perhaps more afraid.”

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About John Steinbeck

American novelist and short story writer of the mid-20th century, Steinbeck is best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel *The Grapes of Wrath*, which vividly captures the struggles of migrant workers during the Great Depression. His work often explores human resilience, social injustice, and the complexities of the American Dream, blending realism with poetic depth.

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