Civilization Quote by Jack Kerouac
““Japhy was considered an eccentric around the campus, which is the usual thing for campuses and college people to think whenever a real man appears on the scene - colleges being nothing but grooming schools for the middleclass non-identity which usually finds its perfect expression on the outskirts of the campus in rows of well-to-do houses with lawns and television sets in each living room with everybody looking at the same thing at the same time while the Japhies of the world go prowling in the wilderness to hear the voice crying in the wilderness, to find the ecstasy of the stars, to find the dark mysterious secret of the origin of faceless wonderless crapulous civilization.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: On the Road by Jack Kerouac, 1957
The passage contrasts conformity on campus with the restless, visionary spirit that seeks deeper meaning beyond material comforts.
In simple terms: Conformity vs. wild curiosity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the wild search for meaning.
Themes
conformity
individualism
search
materialism
spirituality
Mood
reflective
melancholic
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- college life
- artistic creation
- personal rebellion
- spiritual quest
- social critique
Key Concepts
existentialism
counterculture
identity
alienation
nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance societal expectations with personal yearning?
- What does “the wilderness” represent for you?
A Different Perspective
The romantic ideal may overlook practical realities of survival.
