No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength. Learning for instance, to eat when he's hungry and sleep when he's sleepy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Kerouac argues that wilderness solitude builds self-reliance and reveals inner strength through basic survival needs.
- In plain terms
- Time alone in nature teaches you your true strength and how to rely on yourself.
- What can you take from it?
- Solitude in nature builds self-reliance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When did you feel your strength?
- What do you rely on?
Another view
Access to wilderness is not equally available to everyone.
More from Jack Kerouac
If you have ice cream I will give you some. If you have no ice cream I will take it away from you. (It is an ice cream koan [cone].)
Permalink to quote #37 Ah, life is a gate, a way, a path to Paradise anyway, why not live for fun and joy and love or some sort of girl by a fireside, why not go to your desire and L…
Permalink to quote #39 Trouble with you is you don't do plenty night zazen especially when it's cold out, that's best, besides you should get married and have halfbreed babies, manus…
Permalink to quote #36
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