Of Mice and Men Slim Quotes

He moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsman. He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler’s butt with a bull whip without touching the mule. There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke, His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner.

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 2. Slim, in his first real appearance to George and Lennie, is described as a man of authority, and having inherent dignity and majesty to him.

His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 2. Describing Slim, the most respected man on the ranch. He listened carefully to people and understood. A man of deep wisdom, he is able to look beyond the obvious, probes deeply into a situation and is an excellent judge of people. Not surprising then that the men look up to him and depend on him for support and guidence.

Slim sat in silence for a moment. “Didn’t hurt the girl none, huh?” he asked finally.
“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.”
“He ain’t mean,” said Slim. “I can tell a mean guy from a mile off.”

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 3. George is talking to Slim about Lennie’s trouble in Weed, where the townspeople wanted to lynch him after he touched girl’s dress and she thought he was trying to rape her.

I think you got your han’ caught in a machine. If you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to. But you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh.

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 3. After Lennie crushes Curley’s hand, Slim tells Curley what to do – say the injury was the result of an accident with a machine. If it were discovered that Lennie had injured Curley, Lennie would likely have been fired.

“Couldn’ we maybe bring him in an’ they’ll lock him up? He’s nuts, Slim. He never done this to be mean.”
Slim nodded. “We might,” he said. “If we could keep Curley in, we might, But Curley’s gonna want to shoot ‘im. Curley’s still mad about his hand. An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good, George.”

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 5. George is wondering what he should do about Lennie after Curley’s wife’s body is discovered. But Slim understands Lennie’s fate and that there will be no trial or mercy or for Lennie. The kind of mental problems Lennie had were not understood at that time. Slim appears to be encouraging George to carry out a mercy killing of Lennie.

Slim came directly to George and sat down beside him, sat very close to him. “Never you mind,” said Slim. “A guy got to sometimes.”

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 6. Slim on George’s killing of Lennie. Here Slim takes on the role of priest, comforting George after he just killed Lennie, suggesting it was the right thing to do in the circumstances. George kills Lennie to spare him jail or a painful death at the hands of the mob, after Lennie kills Curley’s wife by shaking her so hard her neck breaks.
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