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 am ashamed to be a member of the human race but I don't want to add any more to that shame, I want to scrape a little of it off.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a deep disillusionment with humanity while expressing a desire for personal redemption through positive action.
In this quote, Charles Bukowski reveals a profound sense of discontent with the human condition, indicating that he feels shameful about being part of humanity. However, instead of succumbing to despair, he seeks to mitigate that shame through his actions, striving to make a positive difference in the world, however small it may be. This illustrates a tension between the recognition of humanity's flaws and the desire for moral and personal improvement.
Themes
ShameHumanityRedemptionActionDisillusionment
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social responsibility, one might say this quote to emphasize the need for individual contributions to societal improvement.
More from Charles Bukowski
All quotes →when I am feeling low all i have to do is watch my cats and my courage returns
Charles BukowskiRead
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.
Charles BukowskiRead
To experience real agony is something hard to write about, impossible to understand while it grips you; you're frightened out of your wits, can’t 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 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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