02c. 1957 ADdon’t be like so many writers,don’t be like so many thousands ofpeople who call themselves writers,don’t be dull and boring andpretentious, don’t be consumed with self-love.the libraries of the world haveyawned themselves tosleepover your kind.don’t add to that.don’t do it.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
03c. 1957 ADWhat a weary time those years were -- to have the desire and the need to live but not the ability.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
04c. 1957 ADI had noticed that both in the very poor and very rich extremes of society the mad were often allowed to mingle freely.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
05c. 1957 ADWhen I get down to my last dime I'll just walk over to skid row.""There are some real weirdos down there.""They're everywhere.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
06c. 1957 ADpeople who eat 3 meals a day throughout lifehave never reallytastedFood...Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
07c. 1957 ADThere was nothing glorious about the life of a drinker or the life of a writer.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
08c. 1957 ADThe centuries are sprinkled with rare magicwith divine creatureswho help us get past the common and extraordinary ills that beset usCharles Bukowski / quote ↗
09c. 1957 ADthe grace is being able to like rock music,symphony music, jazz …anything that contains the original energy ofjoy.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
10c. 1957 ADthe people are the biggesthorror show on earth,have been forcenturies.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
11c. 1957 ADAnd it seems people should not build houses anymoreit seems people should stop working and sit in small rooms on second floorsunder electric lightswithout shades;it seems there is a lot to forgetand a lot not to doand in drugstores, markets, bars,the people are tired, they do not want to move, and I stand there at nightand look through this house and the house does not want to be builtCharles Bukowski / quote ↗
12c. 1957 ADYawn...I believe that I love sleepmuch more than anybody I’ve evermet.I have the ability to sleep for2 or 3 days andnights.I will go to bed at any givenmoment.I often confused my girlfriendsthis way—say it would be about onethirtyin the afternoon:“well, I’m going to bed now, I’mgoing to sleep…”most of them wouldn’t mind, theywould go to bed with methinking I was hinting forsexbut I would just turn my backand snore off.this, of course, could explainwhy so many of my girlfriendsleft me.as for doctors, they were neverany help:“listen, I have this desire togo to bed and sleep, almost allthe time.what is wrong withme?”“do you get enough exercise?”“yes…”“are you getting enoughnourishment?”“yes…”they always handed me aprescriptionwhich I threw awaybetween the office and theparking lot.it’s a curious maladybecause I can’t sleep between6 p.m. and midnight.it must occur aftermidnightand when I ariseit can never bebefore noon.and should the phone ringsay at 10:30 a.m.I go into a mad ragedon’t even ask who the callerisscream into thephone: “WHAT ARE YOUCALLING ME FOR AT THISHOUR!”hangup…every person, I suppose, hastheir eccentricitiesbut in an effort to benormalin the world’seyethey overcome themand thereforedestroy theirspecial calling.I’ve kept mineand do believe thatthey have lent generously tomy existence.I think it’s the main reason Idecided to become awriter: I can typeanytime andsleepwhen I damn wellplease.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
13c. 1957 ADthe flesh covers the bone and they put a mind in there and sometimes a soul, and the women break vases against the walls and the men drink too much and nobody finds the one but keep looking crawling in and out of beds. flesh covers the bone and the flesh searches for more than flesh.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
14c. 1957 ADaboutour argument tonightwhatever it wasaboutand no matterhow unhappyit made usfeelremember thatthere is acatsomewhereadjusting to thespace of itselfwith a delightfulwonderment ofeasiness.in other wordsmagic persistswithout usno matter whatwe doagainst it.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
16c. 1957 ADI always felt it wouldpass.I listened to the charges against meknowing some of them to be truebut certainly notimportant enoughto become the target ofviolence, envy,vengeance.I thought it would surelypass.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
17c. 1957 ADbeware those quick to praise for they need praise in return beware those who are quick to censor they are afraid of what they do not know beware those who seek constant crowds for they are nothing aloneCharles Bukowski / quote ↗
18c. 1957 ADwhen Whitman wrote, “I sing the body electric”I know what hemeantI know what hewanted:to be completely alive every momentin spite of the inevitable.we can’t cheat death but we can make itwork so hardthat when it does takeusit will have known a victory just asperfect asoursCharles Bukowski / quote ↗
20c. 1957 ADThe dead do not needaspirin orsorrow,I suppose.but they might needrain.not shoesbut a place towalk.not cigarettes,they tell us,but a place to burn.or we're told:space and a place to flymight be thesame.the dead don't need me.nor do theliving.but the dead might needeachother.in fact, the dead might needeverything weneedandwe need so muchif we only knewwhat itwas.it isprobablyeverythingand we will allprobably dietrying to getitor diebecause wedon't getit.I hopeyou will understandwhen I am deadI got as muchaspossible.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
23c. 1957 ADI found the best thingI could dowas just to type awayat my own workand let the dyingdieas they always have.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
24c. 1957 ADone doesn't even think ofthe liverand if the liverdoesn't think ofus, that'sfine.Charles Bukowski / quote ↗
