On the Road Dissatisfaction Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #52

We gazed and gazed at our wonderful Mexican money that went so far, and played with it and looked around and smiled at everyone. Behind us lay the whole of America and everything Dean and I had previously known: about life, and life on the road. We had finally found the magic land at the end of the road and we never dreamed the extent of the magic. "Think of these cats staying up all hours of the night," whispered Dean. "And think of this big continent ahead of us with those enormous Sierra Madre mountains we saw in the movies, and the jungles all the way down and a whole desert plateau as big as ours and reaching clear down to Guatemala and God knows where, whoo! What’ll we do? What’ll we do? Let’s move!" We got out and went back to the car. One last glimpse of America across the hot lights of the Rio Grande bridge, and we turned our back and fender to it and roared off. (IV.5.3)

Although his conversations and drug use differ in Mexico, Dean’s need for motion remains the same.

Quote #53

"It’s the world," said Dean. "My God!" he cried, slapping the wheel. "It’s the world! We can go right on to South America if the road goes. Think of it! Son-of-z-b****! Gawd-damm!" We rushed on. (IV.5.7)

Dean never feels far enough south, just as Sal never felt far enough west.

Quote #54

But night was coming and we had to get on to the end; and Dean saw that, and began frowning and thinking and trying to straighten himself out, and finally I broached the idea of leaving once and for all. "So much ahead of us, man, it won’t make any difference." (IV.5.51)

Sal and Dean share some of the same feelings of restlessness, the same need for motion.