Analysis for Chapter 4- Quote #2

"I seen hundereds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads... every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever'body wants a little piece of lan'. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land."

     At this point in the story, Lennie tells Crooks about his plans with George and Candy to buy some land. Crooks is just saying that their dream is no different than any other wandering ranch hand and that nobody ever achieves that dream. It's an important quote because it exemplifies the theme of the pursuit and impossibility of the american dream and/or utopia.