The only people for me are the mad ones,
the ones who are mad to live,
mad to talk, mad to be saved,
desirous of everything at the same time,
the ones who never yawn or
say a commonplace thing,
but burn, burn, burn,
like fabulous yellow roman candles
exploding like spiders across the stars
and in the middle you see the
blue centerlight pop and
everybody goes “Awww!”
—Jack Kerouac, On The Road, 1957
* * *
Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits. The rebels.
The troublemakers. The round
pegs in the square holes - the
ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules and
they have no respect for
the status quo. You can praise
them, disagree with them,
quote them, disbelieve them,
glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing that you
can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
—Apple ad
I've amended this entry thanks to the very informed Tessa. It was very kind of her to offer her literary expertise! I thought the Apple ad text was lifted from Kerouac, but now that Tessa gave the real original excerpt from On the Road, this sounds not only more familiar, but more the brilliance of Kerouac.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The only people for me are the mad ones
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8 comments:
One of my alltime favorite poems/statements. Kerouac...wow.
This is actually not a Jack Kerouac quote but is mistakenly attributed to him quite a lot via the internet. It was created by Steve Jobs from Apple. It is a take off on the very famous Kerouac quote from On The Road...
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
Just thought you should know.I have immersed myself in intense Kerouac studies for years. I know Jack's writing.
the 'romance' of the written word, and far away from the social reality that k was a part of
look at all the rebellious roman candles in the prison system....
awww!
The Kerouac bit sure packs a bigger punch. Nice to see them side by side, and let the reader draw the comparisons.
p.s. How long have you had the Feynman clip up? I LOVE him.
yep, feynman...a bit of a hero for me since challenger
'sometimes, asking an impertinent question will get a pertinant answer'
Not that I'm keen on the second last line, but still:
Let not young souls be smothered out before
They do quaint deeds and fully flaunt their pride.
It is the world’s one crime its babes grow dull,
Its poor are ox-like, limp and leaden-eyed.
Not that they starve, but starve so dreamlessly,
Not that they sow, but that they seldom reap,
Not that they serve, but have no gods to serve,
Not that they die, but that they die like sheep.
Vachel Lindsay - "The Leaden-Eyed"
"Horrid?" she replied. "Why, I'm thoroughly delightful. I'm an Original, if you please, and therefore incomparable. Of all the comic, absurd, rare and amusing creatures the world contains, I must be the supreme freak." Patchwork Girl from "The Patchwork Girl of Oz"
I like this quote too. Be an original. That is the best way to enjoy yourself.
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