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
I can see where creation often stops while the body still lives and often does not care to. the death of life before life dies.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that many people cease to create or truly live before their physical death, implying a disconnect between existence and meaningful action.
In this poignant reflection, Bukowski highlights the notion that individuals often stop pursuing their passions and creative endeavors while they are still alive, leading to a sense of unfulfilled potential. The phrase 'the death of life before life dies' poignantly illustrates the idea that merely existing without engaging deeply with life can be a tragic form of death, as one's true spirit and creativity are left dormant.
Themes
CreationLifeExistencePotentialPassion
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech about pursuing dreams.
More from Charles Bukowski
All quotes βwhen I am feeling low all i have to do is watch my cats and my courage returns
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The masses are always wrong...Wisdom is doing everything the crowd does not do. All you do is reverse the totality of their learning and you have the heaven they're looking for.
Charles BukowskiRead
I'm going to open another vottle. not a vottle, but a bottle. you open it and I'll drink it. and you try to write as much as I did without falling off of your chair.
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To experience real agony is something hard to write about, impossible to understand while it grips you; you're frightened out of your wits, canβt sit still, move, or even go decently insane.
Charles BukowskiRead
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 donβt 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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