Learn, he says, that there will be hours, days and months ahead of feeling absolutely terrible and nothing can change that; neither new girlfriends, health professionals, changes of diet, dope, humility, or God.
Charles Bukowski
Emotional Struggle, Accepting Pain, Unchanging Life, Struggle, Pain, Acceptance
Charles Bukowski’s Quotes On Topics
Happiness | Creative Escape | Existential Traps | Misfortune Path | Physical Struggles | Self Reflection | Coping Mechanism | Human Disconnect | Death Proximity | Existential Helplessness | Human Cynicism | Identity Change | Personal Feelings | Disneyland | Candy Nostalgia | Unique Identity | Safety | Messy Spaces | Literary Views | Systemic Barriers | More
More Charles Bukowski Quotes
“I met a genius on the train today about 6 years old, he sat beside me and as the train ran down along the coast we came to the ocean and then he looked at me and said, it’s not pretty.” Charles Bukowski
Innocent Wisdom, Child Genius, Life Perception, Wisdom, Child, Reality
Charles Bukowski Innocent Wisdom, Child Genius, Life Perception, Wisdom, Child, Reality“If I’m an ass, I should say so. If I don’t, somebody else will. If I say it first, that disarms them.” Charles Bukowski
Self Honesty, Personal Integrity, Social Defense, Honesty, Integrity, Defense
Charles Bukowski Self Honesty, Personal Integrity, Social Defense, Honesty, Integrity, Defense“I was drawn to all the wrong things: I liked to drink, I was lazy, I didn’t have a god, politics, ideas, ideals.” Charles Bukowski
Flawed Choices, Inner Conflict, Self-Reflection, Life Vices, Lack Of Direction, Existential Struggle
Charles Bukowski Flawed Choices, Inner Conflict, Self-Reflection, Life Vices, Lack Of Direction, Existential Struggle“Some men hope for revolution but when you revolt and set up your new government you find your new government is still the same old Papa, he has only put on a cardboard mask.” Charles Bukowski
Revolution’s Truth, Political Cycles, Cynical Observation, Government, Papa, Revolution
Charles Bukowski Revolution’s Truth, Political Cycles, Cynical Observation, Government, Papa, Revolution“If you can’t write the next line, well, you’re dead. The past doesn’t matter.” Charles Bukowski
Creative Block, Writing Struggle, Life Continuation, Writing, Past, Inspiration
Charles Bukowski Creative Block, Writing Struggle, Life Continuation, Writing, Past, Inspiration“My days, my years, my life has seen up and downs, lights and darknesses. If I wrote only and continually of the 'light' and never mentioned the other, then as an artist, I would be a liar.” Charles Bukowski
Life’s Ups And Downs, Artistic Honesty, Light And Darkness, Life, Art, Honesty
Charles Bukowski Life’s Ups And Downs, Artistic Honesty, Light And Darkness, Life, Art, Honesty“It’s not so much that nothing means anything but more that it keeps meaning nothing. there’s no release, just gurus and self-appointed gods and hucksters. the more people say, the less there is to say. even the best books are dry sawdust.” Charles Bukowski
Philosophical Despair, Existential Void, Social Critique, Loss Of Meaning, Intellectual Exhaustion, Modern Malaise
Charles Bukowski Philosophical Despair, Existential Void, Social Critique, Loss Of Meaning, Intellectual Exhaustion, Modern Malaise“There is a place in the heart that will never be filled; a space. And even during the best moments, and the greatest times, we will know it.” Charles Bukowski
Heartache Reflection, Existential Void, Emotional Depth, Inner Longing, Universal Truth, Love’s Absence
Charles Bukowski Heartache Reflection, Existential Void, Emotional Depth, Inner Longing, Universal Truth, Love’s Absence“Fay had a spot of blood on the left side of her mouth and I took a wet cloth and wiped it off. Women were meant to suffer; no wonder they asked for constant declarations of love.” Charles Bukowski
Suffering Women, Love Declarations, Emotional Pain, Women, Love, Suffering
Charles Bukowski Suffering Women, Love Declarations, Emotional Pain, Women, Love, Suffering“I’ll use the knives for spreading jam, and the gas to warm my greying love.” Charles Bukowski
Love Aging, Domestic Tragedy, Fragile Life, Love, Aging, Desperation
Charles Bukowski Love Aging, Domestic Tragedy, Fragile Life, Love, Aging, Desperation“It's when you begin to lie to yourself in a poem in order to simply make a poem, that you fail.” Charles Bukowski
Poetic Honesty, Artistic Truths, Writing Integrity, Poem, Honesty, Integrity
Charles Bukowski Poetic Honesty, Artistic Truths, Writing Integrity, Poem, Honesty, Integrity“All a guy needed was a chance. Somebody was always controlling who got a chance and who didn’t.” Charles Bukowski
Missed Opportunities, Systemic Barriers, Simple Aspirations, Chance, Control, Opportunity
Charles Bukowski Missed Opportunities, Systemic Barriers, Simple Aspirations, Chance, Control, Opportunity“I never pump up my vulgarity. I wait for it to arrive in its own terms.” Charles Bukowski
Vulgarity Control, Personal Expression, Authenticity, Expression, Authenticity, Control
Charles Bukowski Vulgarity Control, Personal Expression, Authenticity, Expression, Authenticity, Control“Sometimes I get too exhausted to even feel bad.” Charles Bukowski
Emotional Exhaustion, Inner Struggle, Personal Reflection, Mental Fatigue, Existential Burnout, Subtle Despair
Charles Bukowski Emotional Exhaustion, Inner Struggle, Personal Reflection, Mental Fatigue, Existential Burnout, Subtle Despair“Writing is like going to bed with a beautiful woman and afterwards she gets up, goes to her purse and gives me a handful of money.” Charles Bukowski
Writing Metaphor, Passion Art, Life Transaction, Writing, Life, Passion
Charles Bukowski Writing Metaphor, Passion Art, Life Transaction, Writing, Life, Passion“Before you kill something make sure you have something better to replace it with...” Charles Bukowski
Life Choices, Moral Dilemma, Personal Responsibility, Choice, Morality, Responsibility
Charles Bukowski Life Choices, Moral Dilemma, Personal Responsibility, Choice, Morality, Responsibility“The public takes from a writer, or a writing, what it needs and lets the remainder go. but what they take is usually what they need least and what they let go is what they need most.” Charles Bukowski
Writer’s Insight, Public Perception, Misunderstood Messages, Creative Reflection, Artistic Truth, Poetic Wisdom
Charles Bukowski Writer’s Insight, Public Perception, Misunderstood Messages, Creative Reflection, Artistic Truth, Poetic Wisdom“Lawyers, doctors, plumbers, they all made the money. Writers? Writers starved. Writers suicided. Writers went mad.” Charles Bukowski
Writer Struggle, Career Madness, Starved Creators, Writing, Careers, Survival
Charles Bukowski Writer Struggle, Career Madness, Starved Creators, Writing, Careers, Survival“I don't write so much now. I'm getting on 33, pot belly and creeping dementia.” Charles Bukowski
Writing Reflection, Aging Process, Personal Change, Aging, Writing, Life
Charles Bukowski Writing Reflection, Aging Process, Personal Change, Aging, Writing, Life“And there I was, 225 pounds, perpetually lost and confused, short legs, ape-like upper body, all chest, no neck, head too large, blurred eyes, hair uncombed, 6 feet of geek, waiting for her.” Charles Bukowski
Self-Deprecation, Physical Description, Geek Identity, Romantic Hope, Human Imperfections, Confused State
Charles Bukowski Self-Deprecation, Physical Description, Geek Identity, Romantic Hope, Human Imperfections, Confused State