Often attributed to Kerouac's novel Big Sur, the quote cannot be found in that book, nor in any of Kerouac's other published works. It is, in fact, a quote by the Kerouac character in the movie of Big Sur (2013) and therefore composed by the screenplay writer Michael Polish, rather than by Jack Kerouac.
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A man needs truth like a machine needs oil.
— Jack Kerouac
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "A man needs truth like a machine needs oil." in the context of "Often attributed to Kerouac's novel Big Sur, the quote cannot be found in that book, nor in any of Kerouac's other published works. It is, in fact, a quote by the Kerouac character in the movie of Big Sur (2013) and therefore composed by the screenplay writer Michael Polish, rather than by Jack Kerouac." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Jack Kerouac" (Misattributed)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac (12 March 1922 – 21 October 1969), born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac, was an American novelist, poet, and artist. He was a central figure among Beat Generation writers.
About Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac (12 March 1922 – 21 October 1969), born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac, was an American novelist, poet, and artist. He was a central figure among Beat Generation writers.
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