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Children Quote by Neal Cassady

“Like here it was that I entered that stage when a child overcomes naivite enough to realize an adult's emotional reaction as somethimes freakish for its inconsistencies, so can, on his own reasoning canvas, paint those early pale colors of judgement, resulting from initial moments of ability to…” quote by Neal Cassady
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““Like here it was that I entered that stage when a child overcomes naivite enough to realize an adult's emotional reaction as somethimes freakish for its inconsistencies, so can, on his own reasoning canvas, paint those early pale colors of judgement, resulting from initial moments of ability to critically examine life's perplexities, in tentative little brain-engine stirrings, before they faded to quickly join that train of remembered experience carrying signals indicating existence which itself far outweighs traction effort by thinking's soon slipping drivers to effectively resist any slack-action advantage, for starting so necessitates continual cuts on the hauler - performed as if governed lifelong by the tagwork of a student-green foreman who, crushed under on rushing time always building against his excessive load of emotional contents, is forever a lost ball in the high weeds of personal developments - until, with ever changing emphasis through a whole series of grades of consciousness (leading up from root-beginnings of obscure childish inconscious soul within a world), early lack - for what child sustains logic? - reaches a point of late fossilization, resultant of repeated wrong moves in endless switching of dark significances crammed inside the cranium, where, through such hindering habits, there no longer is the flexibility for thought transfer and unloading of dead freight that a standard gauge would afford and thus, as Faustian Destiny dictates, is an inept mink, limited, being in existence firmly tracked just above the constant "T" biased ballast supporting wherever space yearnings lead the worn rails of civilized comprehension, so henceforth is restricted to mere pickups and setouts of drab distortion, while traveling wearily along its familiar Western Thinking right-of-way. But choo-choo nonsense aside, ...””

Neal Cassady

About This Quote

Source Novel: On the Road by Jack Kerouac, 1957

The quote reflects on how childhood naïveté evolves into adult critical thinking, but repeated missteps can harden mental habits, limiting flexibility and growth.

In simple terms: Childhood curiosity becomes adult judgment, yet rigid habits block mental flexibility.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and break rigid thought patterns early.

Themes

growth self-awareness mental flexibility habit formation consciousness

Mood

reflective critical hopeful

Type

philosophical motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

  • education
  • personal development
  • therapy
  • coaching
  • creative work

Key Concepts

psychology developmental theory cognitive rigidity critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • What habits formed in youth still limit you?
  • How can you re‑train your mind for flexibility?
A Different Perspective

Rigid habits can become entrenched, making change difficult later in life.

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