18 Inspiring Jack Kerouac Quotes that Will Keep You on the Road

Famed Jack Kerouac, born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet, whose writing career reached true success after publishing the novel On the Road.

The book written over the course of only three weeks became an American classic that defined the Beat Generation. On the Road describes a series of trips across the US by some young people who enjoy life’s beauty to the fullest while being almost penniless.

Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous writing and he managed to indulge his readers with also a great number of sonnets and odes. His work covers themes such as travel, jazz, Buddhism, promiscuity, drugs and Catholic spirituality. The latter underlines Kerouac’s memories of attending the church with his parents after his older brother died at the age of 9.

Despite enjoying a great writing career, Kerouac became a victim of drug and alcohol abuse and lived with his addiction until the very end. His work, however, continues to capture and inspire today’s youth.

Here are 18 Jack Kerouac quotes to ignite your passion for travel and adventure

Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.

The best teacher is experience and not through someone's distorted point of view.

One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.

Offer them what they secretly want and they of course immediately become panic-stricken.

I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted.

Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry.

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn…

What's in store for me in the direction I don't take?

Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.

Don't use the phone. People are never ready to answer it. Use poetry.

One man practicing kindness in the wilderness is worth all the temples this world pulls.

There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.

My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them.

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.

I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion.

I was surprised, as always, by how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt. The world was suddenly rich with possibility.

In the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.

Life must be rich and full of loving--it's no good otherwise, no good at all, for anyone.