Atop-an-underwood Quote by Jack Kerouac Atop an Underwood Early Stories and Other Writings
““The Grim Reaper isn't grim at all; he's a life-saver. He isn't grim because he isn't anything. . . . he is nothing. And nothing is a hell of a lot better than anything. So long, boys.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Atop an Underwood Early Stories and Other Writings, 1974
The Grim Reaper is portrayed as a liberator, making death preferable to existence.
In simple terms: Death is better than existence.
Key Takeaway
Embrace mortality as freedom.
Themes
death
existence
philosophy
Mood
darkly
thought‑provoking
Type
Atop-an-underwood:1
Autobiography:0
Beat:0
Grim reaper:0
Jack-kerouac:0
Memoir:0
Prose:0
Prose poetry:0
Reaper:0
Short stories:0
Reaper Isn:0
Grim Isn:0
Isn Grim:0
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- creative writing
- spiritual contemplation
Key Concepts
nihilism
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you fear or welcome death?
- How does this perspective affect your living?
A Different Perspective
Such a view may ignore life's inherent value.
![“I was impressed with Jack [Kerouac]’s commitment to serious writing at the expense of everything else in his life. At a time when the middle class was burgeoning with new homes, two-tone American cars, and black-and-white TVs, when American happiness was defined by upwardly mobile consumerism…” quote by Sterling Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/996/sterling-lord-55520_happiness_i-was-impressed-with-jack-kerouac-s-comm_36815.jpg)
![“I realized Jack [Kerouac] was deeply committed to writing. Kesey was just as deeply committed to living and experiencing the lives of others; for him writing was just a part of living.” quote by Sterling Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1a/sterling-lord-55520_art-of-living_i-realized-jack-kerouac-was-deeply-commi_11675.jpg)