I returned to college in the Fall, but my mind wasn’t at rest. My family was not any too well fixed; I felt out of place, the coaches were insulting, I was lonely; I left and went down to the South to think things over. Since then, on my own, I have been learning fast, writing a lot, reading good men, and have been slowly making up my mind, seriously & quietly. Either I am loathsome to others, I have decided, or else I shall be a beacon of rich warm light, spreading good and plenty, making things prosper, being a cosmic architect, conquering the world and being respected, myself grinning surreptitiously. Either that, Sirs, or I shall be the most loathsome, useless, and parasitical (on myself) creature in the world. I shall be a denizen of the Underground, or a successful man of the world. There shall be no compromise!!! I mean it.

Jack Kerouac quoted in New York Diaries

29th November 1941 (19!)

  1. peacecalebpeace reblogged this from instrumentsofdarkness
  2. toulousebasil reblogged this from hermionejg
  3. shouldbetanninginstead reblogged this from hermionejg
  4. thedoublebeautyofsocks reblogged this from hermionejg
  5. eireannmarie reblogged this from hermionejg
  6. asiafields reblogged this from hermionejg
  7. halucinace reblogged this from hermionejg
  8. andersoncoopersangstyteens reblogged this from hermionejg
  9. fleshimpact reblogged this from hermionejg
  10. hermionejg posted this