92 years ago today, March 12 1922, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Jack Kerouac was born. His writing career began in the 1940s, but didn’t meet with commercial success until 1957, when On the Road was published. The book became an American classic that defined the Beat Generation. The famed yet troubled Kerouac died on October 21, 1969, from an abdominal haemorrhage at the untimely age of 47 caused by alcohol abuse.
Kerouac was a free thinker, a visionary, philosopher, rebel, and icon of the beat generation with an insatiable wanderlust and perpetual love for the unknown and adventure. His life was a series of passion and ecstasy and searching. In honour of his birth, 92 years ago today, we take a look at some of his most memorable quotes on life, love, travel and everything in-between. The voice of a generation – the beat generation….
One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.
Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.
A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world.
Happiness consists in realising it is all a great strange dream.
Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.
Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.
I was surprised, as always, be how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt. The world was suddenly rich with possibility.
Pain or love or danger makes you real again…
If moderation is a fault, then indifference is a crime.
There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.
Will you love me in December as you do in May?
Life must be rich and full of loving–it’s no good otherwise, no good at all, for anyone.
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