Quotessence
Home / Topics / Charles Bukowski Quotes

Charles Bukowski Quotes

Browse 27 quotes about Charles Bukowski.

Charles Bukowski Quotes

“You see when you are selling under ten books and stories a year and you have zero likes on most of your quotes, that is the special time where you have a very close relationship with your art. I mean you still have total trust in your art and your art still has total trust in you. And so does the universe, or God. That is the reward. The relationship or connection with your art is untainted, pure, beautiful. I mean who is the most famous painter in the world? You see, distractions like fame destroy all that. It is just a shame that he did not live long enough to celebrate his success as a creator, though I am sure he did in his own way. This is related to your ego or label that you later accept when you are known by the masses, because when you are unknown, unread, unseen, un-smelled, unfelt, unheard, you are not yet labelled. Bukowski talked about that, how young authors were destroyed when they became famous early, their art being corrupted by their ego, and how others turned to political commentary. Bukowski was grateful that he never made it when he was young. So, he could carry on creating undisturbed, as it were, by society. Of course they came for him eventually, but as he famously said, they came for me too late. The remarkable thing about Van Gogh and Bukowski was how they both kept creating great art until their deaths. The fact that you are reading this quote and I am still unknown, and more importantly unlabelled is a blessing to you and me.”

FameEgoAuthorsBukowskiVan GoghCreatorsCharles BukowskiLabelVincent Van GoghUnknown Artists
Author:Jack Freestone
Create image

“unaccountably we are alone forever alone and it was meant to be that way, it was never meant to be any other way– and when the death struggle begins the last thing I wish to see is a ring of human faces hovering over me– better just my old friends, the walls of my self, let only them be there. I have been alone but seldom lonely. I have satisfied my thirst at the well of my self and that wine was good, the best I ever had, and tonight sitting staring into the dark I now finally understand the dark and the light and everything in between. peace of mind and heart arrives when we accept what is: having been born into this strange life we must accept the wasted gamble of our days and take some satisfaction in the pleasure of leaving it all behind. cry not for me. grieve not for me. read what I’ve written then forget it all. drink from the well of your self and begin again. Mind and Heart”

LifeMindHeartSelfPoemBegin AgainBukowskiCharles Bukowski
Book:Come On In!: New Poems
Create image

“during my worst times on the park benches in the jails or living with whores I always had this certain contentment- I wouldn't call it happiness- it was more of an inner balance that settled for whatever was occuring and it helped in the factories and when relationships went wrong with the girls. it helped through the wars and the hangovers the backalley fights the hospitals. to awaken in a cheap room in a strange city and pull up the shade- this was the craziest kind of contentment and to walk across the floor to an old dresser with a cracked mirror- see myself, ugly, grinning at it all. what matters most is how well you walk through the fire.”

PoetryCharles BukowskiAmerican Poets
Author:Charles Bukowski
Create image

“With pronounced crowds around him - towns rowdy with loud shouting - without pouting childishly, while making his case soundly, he announced it quite proudly (mouth smiling undoubtedly (without clouds of doubt frowning)): 'See, this wild thing about me: I don't live life without me. So, how now shall you crown me? No need to bow down for me, or drown me in salary, or go tout my mastery (like an ounce is astounding); or oppositely, clown me, and just sound like a mouse squeak. Though none are better than me, no one's ever less than me; and it rings out hourly, like a vow surrounding me, a thousand pound pact to me, an infinite galaxy (that fits in this house of me (as if it's my fallacy (like 'limitless boundaries' (within this reality)))) - it's what gets the best of me - my ground and my gravity, as once said by Bukowski, 'I've never met another man I'd rather be.”

Self EsteemConfidenceSelf WorthPeace Of MindBe YourselfMasculineBukowskiCharles BukowskiProud To Be MeBe Beautiful Being You
Author:Criss Jami
Create image

“Si vas a intentarlo, que sea a fondo. Si no, mejor que ni empieces. Puede que pierdas familia, mujer, amistad, trabajos y hasta la cabeza. Puede que no comas en días, puede que te congeles en un banco de la calle. No importa. Es una prueba de resistencia para saber que puedes hacerlo. Y lo harás. A pesar del rechazo y de la incertidumbre, será mejor que cualquier cosa que hayas imaginado. Te sentirás a solas con los dioses, y las noches arderán en llamas. Cabalgarás la vida hasta la risa perfecta. Es la única batalla que cuenta.”

LiteraturaEscribirCharles Bukowski
Author:Charles Bukowski
Create image

“How are ya gonna make it?” Becker asked. “Seems like I’ve heard that question all my life.” “Well, I don’t know about you but I’m going to try everything! War, women, travel, marriage, children, the works. The first car I own I’m going to take it completely apart! Then I’m going to put it back together again! I want to know about things, what makes them work! I’d like to be a correspondent in Washington, D.C. I’d like to be where big things are happening.” “Washington’s crap, Becker.” “And women? Marriage? Children?” “Crap.” “Yeah? Well, what do you want?” “To hide.” “You poor fuck. You need another beer.” “All right.” The beer arrived.”

BukowskiCharles BukowskiHam On Rye
Book:Ham On Rye
Create image

“It was a Saturday night in December. I was in my room and I drank much more than usual, lighting cigarette after cigarette, thinking of girls and the city and jobs, and of the years ahead. Looking ahead I liked very little of what I saw. I wasn’t a misanthrope and I wasn’t a misogynist but I liked being alone. It felt good to sit alone in a small space and smoke and drink. I had always been good company for myself.”

BukowskiCharles BukowskiHam On Rye
Book:Ham On Rye
Create image

“I sat back down and poured a glass of wine. I left my door open. The moonlight came in with the sounds of the city: juke boxes, automobiles, curses, dogs barking, radios.. .We were all in it together. We were all in one big shit pot together. There was no escape. We were all going to be flushed away. A small cat walked by, stopped at my door and looked in. The eyes were lit by the moon: pure red like fire. Such wonderful eyes. “Come on, kitty...” I held my hand out as if there were food in it. “Kitty, kitty...” The cat walked on by.”

BukowskiCharles BukowskiHam On Rye
Book:Ham On Rye
Create image