The Crazy Ones quote

[johngordon]

I just dug this out the other day and my wife asked me where it was from. I always thought it had just been written by someone at Apple, and that is what Wiki says.

But I have also seen it attributed to Jack Kerouac, e.g.:

http://quotesgram.com/img/jack-kerouac-quotes-about-life/13096682/

Anyone know which is correct? If it wasn't from Kerouac, any idea why it has been attributed to him?

Is it just that the crazy ones quote gets mixes up with this one of Kerouac:

"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."

 

[Jessica Lares]

It was written by Rob Siltanen and Ken Segall when they were at Chiat Day who worked with Apple on advertising. They did lift some of it from Jack Kerouac.

 

[johngordon]

Thanks Jessica.

In that case I'm not sure what part Rob and Ken wrote - if its Kerouac's quote it must be virtually word for word.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Actually, people misattribute it to Kerouac because it pulls from a quote in his novel, On The Road:

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jack_Kerouac

"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!""

 

[johngordon]

Thanks - that's what I wondered. Does seem to be misattributed quite a lot. Shame its not from On the Road.