--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I looked at the cracked high ceiling and…" description: "\"“I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds.”\" — Jack Kerouac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg" --- # I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't… ![“I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds.” quote by Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg) > ““I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds.”” [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden, disorienting moment caused a brief loss of self-identity, highlighting the fluidity of personal perception. **In simple terms:** A strange moment made him question who he was. Key Takeaway Embrace moments of uncertainty as opportunities for self‑discovery. Themes identity perception uncertainty Mood confused introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - travel - creative writing - psychological introspection - adolescence Key Concepts existentialism self‑exploration epiphany Questions to Reflect On - What does a brief identity crisis reveal? - How can such moments shape personal growth? A Different Perspective The experience may be fleeting and not lead to lasting insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Our goals should stretch us bit by bit. So often when we think we have encountered a ceiling, it is really a psychological or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-goals-should-stretch-us-bit-by-bit-so-often-when-we-think-we-have/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“Arched pillars held up a very high ceiling that echoed with the sounds of footsteps as everyone bustled about their business. They all seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-mackaman/arched-pillars-held-up-a-very-high-ceiling-that-echoed-with-the/) Audrey Mackaman > [“I'm OK with being single, but I'm not OK when the time comes where I have to move my furniture around and to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroko-sakai/i-m-ok-with-being-single-but-i-m-not-ok-when-the-time-comes-where-i/) [Hiroko Sakai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroko-sakai/) > [If you have 8-foot ceilings, you'll want a low sofa, which gives the impression that the ceiling is taller than it is. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/if-you-have-8-foot-ceilings-you-ll-want-a-low-sofa-which-gives-the/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [We have a high ceiling. We're still young. We're still learning coach's system and we're still learning how to play hard every night. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bogut/we-have-a-high-ceiling-we-re-still-young-we-re-still-learning-coach-s/) [Andrew Bogut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bogut/) > [I really like ceilings...I guess you could call me a Ceiling fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-like-ceilings-i-guess-you-could-call-me-a-ceiling-fan/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are unlimited beings. We have no ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/we-are-unlimited-beings-we-have-no-ceiling/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [I can write, He floated up to the ceiling, and a baby rabbit came out of his pocket, grew wings, and flew away. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-carpenter/i-can-write-he-floated-up-to-the-ceiling-and-a-baby-rabbit-came-out/) [Humphrey Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-carpenter/) > [“A chair, a table, a lamp. Above, on the white ceiling, a relief ornament in the shape of a wreath, and in the center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/a-chair-a-table-a-lamp-above-on-the-white-ceiling-a-relief-ornament/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Work hard, earn a great living, get whatever you want out of life, have all the stuff you want. But there should be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-duncan/work-hard-earn-a-great-living-get-whatever-you-want-out-of-life-have/) [Sandy Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-duncan/) > [“There's no such thing as a glass ceiling for women. It's just a thick layer of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-liswood/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-glass-ceiling-for-women-it-s-just-a-thick/) Laura Liswood > [Dont flatter yourself, honey. The only fan you have is on the ceiling!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-flatter-yourself-honey-the-only-fan-you-have-is-on-the-ceiling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The message I like to convey to women and girls across the globe is that there is no glass ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-message-i-like-to-convey-to-women-and-girls-across-the-globe-is/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I'd hit my head on the ceiling, standin on top of my cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-d-hit-my-head-on-the-ceiling-standin-on-top-of-my-cash/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [The first thing I hear when I wake up is the sea, which is so close to our house that its reflections from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/the-first-thing-i-hear-when-i-wake-up-is-the-sea-which-is-so-close-to/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) ## More by Jack Kerouac > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“For when you realized that God is Everything you know that you've got to love everything no matter how bad it is, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/for-when-you-realized-that-god-is-everything-you-know-that-you-ve-got/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“I'm an idealist who has outgrown my idealism I have nothing to do the rest of my life but do it and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-an-idealist-who-has-outgrown-my-idealism-i-have-nothing-to-do-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Most of them were running away from something―usually the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/most-of-them-were-running-away-from-something-usually-the-law/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Non lo so, non importa e non fa nessuna differenza.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/non-lo-so-non-importa-e-non-fa-nessuna-differenza/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“And in the flush of the first few days of joy I confidently tell myself (not expecting what I'll do in three weeks only)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/and-in-the-flush-of-the-first-few-days-of-joy-i-confidently-tell/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I want a blaze of light to flame in me forever in a timeless, dear love of everything. And why should I pretend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-want-a-blaze-of-light-to-flame-in-me-forever-in-a-timeless-dear/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“For the next week that was all I heard - manana, a lovely word and one that probably means heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/for-the-next-week-that-was-all-i-heard-manana-a-lovely-word-and-one/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“O how wonderful life is, how miraculous, God made this and God made that", "how do you know he doesn't hate what He did:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/o-how-wonderful-life-is-how-miraculous-god-made-this-and-god-made/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I promise I shall never give up, and that I'll die yelling & laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-promise-i-shall-never-give-up-and-that-i-ll-die-yelling-laughing/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“The hot water pools are steaming, Fagan and Monsanto and the others are all sitting peacefully up to their necks, they're all naked, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-hot-water-pools-are-steaming-fagan-and-monsanto-and-the-others/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) [Explore all 936 Jack Kerouac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## More Ceiling quotes > [The first thing I hear when I wake up is the sea, which is so close to our house that its reflections from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/the-first-thing-i-hear-when-i-wake-up-is-the-sea-which-is-so-close-to/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [I'd hit my head on the ceiling, standin on top of my cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-d-hit-my-head-on-the-ceiling-standin-on-top-of-my-cash/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [The message I like to convey to women and girls across the globe is that there is no glass ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-message-i-like-to-convey-to-women-and-girls-across-the-globe-is/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Dont flatter yourself, honey. The only fan you have is on the ceiling!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-flatter-yourself-honey-the-only-fan-you-have-is-on-the-ceiling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There's no such thing as a glass ceiling for women. It's just a thick layer of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-liswood/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-glass-ceiling-for-women-it-s-just-a-thick/) Laura Liswood > [Work hard, earn a great living, get whatever you want out of life, have all the stuff you want. But there should be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-duncan/work-hard-earn-a-great-living-get-whatever-you-want-out-of-life-have/) [Sandy Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-duncan/) > [“A chair, a table, a lamp. Above, on the white ceiling, a relief ornament in the shape of a wreath, and in the center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/a-chair-a-table-a-lamp-above-on-the-white-ceiling-a-relief-ornament/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I can write, He floated up to the ceiling, and a baby rabbit came out of his pocket, grew wings, and flew away. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-carpenter/i-can-write-he-floated-up-to-the-ceiling-and-a-baby-rabbit-came-out/) [Humphrey Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-carpenter/) > [We are unlimited beings. We have no ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/we-are-unlimited-beings-we-have-no-ceiling/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [I really like ceilings...I guess you could call me a Ceiling fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-like-ceilings-i-guess-you-could-call-me-a-ceiling-fan/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are people who say that if you are told that your house has fallen you don't ask what about the ceiling or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/there-are-people-who-say-that-if-you-are-told-that-your-house-has/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [We've removed the ceiling above our dreams. There are no more impossible dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-ve-removed-the-ceiling-above-our-dreams-there-are-no-more/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [If your ceiling should fall down, then you have lost a room, but gained a courtyard. Think of it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/if-your-ceiling-should-fall-down-then-you-have-lost-a-room-but-gained/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [In design-speak, 'a library' means a room lined with books, floor-to ceiling, but it all depends on the space you have. You may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/in-design-speak-a-library-means-a-room-lined-with-books-floor-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [The best advice I can give women at all levels is increase training. There are still areas where we have to break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-solis/the-best-advice-i-can-give-women-at-all-levels-is-increase-training/) [Hilda Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-solis/) Browse all 194 Ceiling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Kerouac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and-really-didn-t-know-who-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ceiling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and-really-didn-t-know-who-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/jack-kerouac-182_quote_i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and_897570.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds.” — Jack Kerouac", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jack Kerouac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I looked at the cracked high...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and-really-didn-t-know-who-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-looked-at-the-cracked-high-ceiling-and-really-didn-t-know-who-i-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```