Charles Bukowski

I was glad I wasn't in love, that I wasn't happy with the world. I like being at odds with everything. People in love often become edgy, dangerous. They lose their sense of perspective. They lose their sense of humor. They become nervous, psychotic bores. They even become killers.

What? You’d dare drink right after getting out of jail for intoxication?” That’s when you need a drink the most.

They looked as if nothing had ever touched them--all well-mothered, protected, with a soft sheen of contentment. None of them had ever been in jail, or worked hard with their hands, or even gotten a traffic ticket. Skimmed-milk jollies, the whole bunch.

Early evening traffic was beginning to clog the avenue with cars. The sun slanted down behind him. Harry glanced at the drivers of the cars. They seemed unhappy. The world was unhappy. People were in the dark. People were terrified and disappointed. People were caught in traps. People were defensive and frantic. They felt as if their lives were being wasted. And they were right.

great writers are indecent people they live unfairly saving the best part for paper. good human beings save the world so that bastards like me can keep creating art, become immortal. if you read this after I am dead it means I made it.

I have loved you woman as surely as I have named you rust and sand and nylon.

If I'm an ass, I should say so. If I don't, somebody else will. If I say it first, that disarms them.

I will remember the kisses our lips raw with love and how you gave me everything you had and how I offered you what was left of me, and I will remember your small room the feel of you the light in the window your records your books our morning coffee our noons our nights our bodies spilled together sleeping the tiny flowing currents immediate and forever your leg my leg your arm my arm your smile and the warmth of you who made me laugh again.

The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.

I can relax with bums because I am a bum. I don't like laws, morals, religions, rules. I don't like to be shaped by society.

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

In my work, as a writer, I only photograph, in words, what I see.

Dying should come easy: like a freight train you don't hear when your back is turned.

Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.

It was like the beginning of life and laughter. It was the real meaning of the sun

It's better to do a dull thing with style than a dangerous thing without it.

Any asshole can chase a skirt, art takes discipline.

The streets were full of insane & dull people. Most of them lived in nice houses and didn't seem to work, and you wondered how they did it.

An artist is a man who says a difficult thing in a simple way

I feel no grief for being called something _x000D_ which _x000D_ I am not; _x000D_ in fact, it's enthralling, somehow, like a good _x000D_ back rub

People do too much. They say too much.