“I seen it over an’ over – a guy talkin’ to another guy and it don’t make no difference if he don’t hear or understand. The thing is, they’re talkin’, or they’re settin’ still not talkin’. It don’t make no difference, no difference…It’s just the talking. It’s just bein’ with another guy. That’s all.”

– John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, Chapter 4. Crooks to Lennie while they are talking about being lonely. Crooks is so desperate for companionship he will appreciate a person who doesn’t understand him or converse with him. This is why he keeps Lennie around him.