I can never drive my car over a bridge without thinking of suicide. I can never look at a lake or an ocean without thinking of suicide.
Charles BukowskiRead
Censorship is the tool of those who have the need to hide actualities from themselves and from others. Their fear is only their inability to face what is real, and I can't vent any anger against them. I only feel this appalling sadness. Somewhere, in their upbringing, they were shielded against the total facts of our existence. They were only taught to look one way when many ways exist.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Censorship stems from fear and a limited perspective on reality.
In this quote, Charles Bukowski highlights how censorship is often employed by individuals who fear confronting the full truth of existence. He expresses sympathy for those who have been conditioned to only see a narrow slice of reality, suggesting that their inability to face what is real results from a childhood shielded from the complexities of life. Instead of anger, he feels profound sadness for their plight, indicating the deep impact of upbringing on one's perception of reality.
Themes
CensorshipTruthFearRealityUpbringing
In practice
Example use cases
A discussion on freedom of speech at a school event could incorporate this quote to highlight the importance of facing reality.
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I lapsed into my pathetic cut-off period. Often with humans, both good and bad, my senses simply shut off, they get tired, I give up. I am polite. I nod. I pretend to understand because I don’t want anybody to be hurt. That is the one weakness that has lead me into the most trouble. Trying to be kind to others I often get my soul shredded into a kind of spiritual pasta. No matter. My brain shuts off. I listen. I respond. And they are too dumb to know that I am not there.
Charles BukowskiRead
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