Come Mountains Quote by Jack Kerouac
““They had come down from the back mountains and higher places to hold forth their hands for something they though civilisation could offer, and they never dreamed the sadness and the poor broken delusion of it. They didn't know that a bomb had come that could crack all our bridges and roads and reduce them to jumbles, and we would be as poor as they someday and stretching out our hands in the same, same way.””
About This Quote
The passage reflects on people’s naive hopes for civilization’s offerings, unaware of looming destruction that will reduce everyone to poverty and desperation.
In simple terms: People cling to false hopes despite impending ruin.
Key Takeaway
Recognize fragility of societal promises.
Themes
disillusionment
civilization
war
poverty
Mood
somber
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- post‑war reconstruction
- political activism
- social critique
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
nihilism
existential dread
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “hand‑out” symbolize?
- How can we prepare for systemic collapse?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize struggle without actionable solutions.
