In chapter 3 of Of Mice and Men George and Slim discuss Lennie, his cognitive potential, and his physical abilities as a big, strong worker.
Slim, as always, sees the positive in everything and has nothing but good things to say about Lennie. George is less generous, but he does admit that Lennie's hard work is an asset. He also compares himself to Lennie, in terms of intellect, when he says:
He's dumb as hell, but he ain't crazy. An I ain't so bright either, or I wouldn't be buckin' barley for my fifty and found.
Clearly, George admits that, if he were just a bit more fortunate in terms of intelligence, or strength, he would have found a way to be one step closer to that huge dream that he and Lennie share.
...If I was even a little bit smart, I'd have my own little place, an' I'd be bringing in my own crops, 'stead of doin' all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground.
George resents that he has to dig up for someone else when, in his dream, he is the one doing all the farming and planting for himself in order to live off of it; to live "off the fat of the land."
He also resents the fact that things always seem to work against him, even his intellect. This is a fact that occurs in several parts of the novella, where we find George begrudgingly pointing out how things end up turning out for him. He does have plenty of obstacles, when you analyze it: He is stuck with Lennie, who causes troublesome situations, and involves George in all of them. He is also stuck with poverty, a job he hates, and overall impotence over his own life. It is no surprise that he finds himself a not very bright man. Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with his situation. He is simply unfortunate.
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