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
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the superficiality of society, where outward appearances can be deceiving and individuals can live unremarkable lives despite having seemingly good circumstances.
In this quote, Charles Bukowski critiques the emptiness and conformity found in society. He observes that many people, despite living in nice homes and appearing stable, lead lives that lack depth and excitement. This raises questions about the nature of fulfillment and the often unseen struggles beneath a polished exterior, prompting reflection on what it truly means to live well.
Themes
SocietyAppearanceLifeFulfillmentConformity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a discussion about the meaning of success in society.
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.
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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.
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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 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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