--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They had come down from the back…" description: "\"“They had come down from the back mountains and higher places to hold forth their hands for something they thought civilization could offer, and they n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jack-kerouac-182_bomb-come_they-had-come-down-from-the-back-mountai_2800352.jpg" --- # They had come down from the back mountains and higher… ![“They had come down from the back mountains and higher places to hold forth their hands for something they thought civilization 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…” quote by Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jack-kerouac-182_bomb-come_they-had-come-down-from-the-back-mountai_2800352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jack-kerouac-182_bomb-come_they-had-come-down-from-the-back-mountai_2800352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jack-kerouac-182_bomb-come_they-had-come-down-from-the-back-mountai_2800352.jpg) > ““They had come down from the back mountains and higher places to hold forth their hands for something they thought civilization 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. Our broken Ford, old thirties upgoing America Ford, rattled through them and vanished in dust.”” [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. The quote reflects on the naive hopes of people seeking civilization’s promises, unaware of looming destruction that can reduce everything to ruin. **In simple terms:** People chase progress without seeing its fragility. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden risks before embracing promises. Themes civilization illusion destruction Mood cautionary reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - urban planning - environmental policy - personal ambition - historical analysis Key Concepts nihilism modernity fragility Questions to Reflect On - What hidden dangers do we ignore in pursuit of progress? - How can we balance hope with caution? A Different Perspective It may overstate the inevitability of catastrophe, ignoring resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“They had come down from the back mountains and higher places to hold forth their hands for something they though civilisation could offer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/they-had-come-down-from-the-back-mountains-and-higher-places-to-hold/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Life was dense, dark, ancient. They watched Dean, serious and insane at his raving wheel, with eyes of hawks. All had their hands outstretched.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/life-was-dense-dark-ancient-they-watched-dean-serious-and-insane-at/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Every time I bomb out, I have to come back. 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