1,615 Quotes by Charles Bukowski

The nine-to-five is one of the greatest atrocities sprung upon mankind. You give your life to a function that doesn't interest you. This situation so repelled me that I was driven to drink, starvation, and mad females, simply as an alternative.

my youth, one time, that time I knew even through the nothingness, it was a celebration of something not to do but only know.

Most of the world was mad. And the part that wasn't mad was angry. And the part that wasn't mad or angry was just stupid. I had no chance. I had no choice. Just hang on and wait for the end. It was hard work. It was the hardest work imaginable.

There's a light somewhere. It may not be much light but it beats the darkness.

Baby," I said, "I'm a genius but nobody knows it but me.

Never envy a man his lady. Behind it all lays a living hell.

Angels, we have grown apart.

Everything was a trap: women, drugs, whiskey, wine, scotch, beer - even beer - cigars, and cigarettes. Traps: Work or no work. Traps: Artistry or no artistry; everything sucked you into some spiderweb. I disdained the use of the needle for the same reason that I disdained some so-called beautiful women - the price was far beyond the measure of the worth. I didn't want to hustle that hard.

Do some living and get yourself a typewriter.