Quotes from Jack Kerouac

I dunno, remember when we were in East St. Louis with George, and Jack you said you'd love those beautiful dancing girls if you knew they would live forever as beautiful as they are? (p. 173)

Use the shadows of the born The shapes of the world And pass them before the light Of imagination's birthless ecstasy

Happy. Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running - that's the way to live.

When it is recognized that there is nothing beyond what is seen of the mind itself, the discrimination of being and non-being ceases and, as there is thus no external world as the object of perception, nothing remains but the solitude of Reality.

I'd rather walk than ride the airplane, I can fall on the ground flat on my face and die that way.

If I ever went to Paris,' said Francis, unexpectedly pensive, 'I think I would be very happy...

All over America highschool and college kids thinking 'Jack Duluoz is 26 years old and on the road all the time hitch hiking' while there I am almost 40 years old, bored and jaded

He sure is a crazy one," she said. "Sure reminds me of my husband that run away. Just exactly the same guy. I sure hope my Mickey don't grow up that way, they all do now.

At lilac evening I walked with every muscle aching among the lights of 27th and Welton in the Denver colored section, wishing I were a Negro, feeling that the best the white world had offered was not enough ecstasy for me, not enough life, joy, kicks, darkness, music, not enough night.

It seems to me now that my life is writing, be it only words without meaning...When I am 33 I shall put a bullet straight through me.

I'm an idealist who has outgrown my idealism I have nothing to do the rest of my life but do it and the rest of my life to do it

Life is holy and every moment is precious.