Quotes from Jack Kerouac

Does this mean that frontiers from now on are to be in the imagination?

We were all delighted, we all realized we were leaving confusion and nonsense behind and performing our one and noble function of the time, move.

I like it because its ugly

Yet this book is to prove that no matter how you travel, how 'successful' your tour, or foreshortened, you always learn something and learn to change your thoughts.

One night I was meditating in such perfect stillness that two mosquitoes came and sat on each of my cheekbones and stayed there a long time without biting and then went away.

Smith, I distrust any kind of Buddhism or any kinda philosophy or social system that puts down sex said Japhy (Gary Snyder)

He knew the road would get more interesting, especially ahead, always ahead.

Hell man, I know very well you didn't come to me only to want to become a writer, and after all what do I really know about it except that you've got to stick to it with the energy of a benny addict.

but that's alright because now everything'll be alright & we'll soothe the forever boys & girls & before we're thru we'll find a name for this Goddam Golden Eternity & tell a story too

I suddenly realized I was in California. Warm, palmy air - air you can kiss - and palms.

this girl I was SEEKING to get involved with as if not enough trouble already or other old romances hadn't taught me that message of pain, keep asking for it, for life

and rain will fall on our eaves.

You boys going to get somewhere, or just going? We didn't understand his question, and it was a damned good question.

He wasn't drunk on liquor, just drunk on what he liked - crowds of people milling.

wishing there was a Personal God in all this impersonal matter.

Everything was everlastingly loose and responsive, it was all everywhere beyond the truth, beyond emptyspace blue. The mountains are mighty patient, Buddha-man, I said out loud, and took a drink.

And a bird who was on a crooked branch is suddenly gone without my even hearing him.

At night I closed my eyes and saw my bones threading the mud of my grave.

Hell! I'm glad I did it. It's going to be a change. I call this life!

And this is not the happiness of a magazine writer who sends in his gay little philosophy of life to the editor for the one paragraph spread in front of the magazine: This is a serious happiness full of doubts and strengths. I wonder if happiness is possible. It is a state of mind, but I'd hate to be a bore all my life, if only because of those I love around me. Happiness can change into unhappiness just for the sake of change.

you are the equal of the idol who has given you your inspiration

Everything fell apart in me. How are things with you?

If you dont [sic] say what you want, what's the sense of writing?

the golden eternity is { }