I don't like the clean-shaven boy with the necktie and the good job. I like desperate men, men with broken teeth and broken minds and broken ways. They interest me. They are full of surprises and explosions. Charles Bukowski boybreakclean share on social
When I worked on a magazine, I learned that there are many, many writers writing that can't write at all; and they keep on writing all the cliches and bromides and 1890 plots, and poems about Spring and poems about Love, and poems they think are modern because they are done in slang or staccato style, or written with all the 'i's' small. Charles Bukowski bromideclichelearn share on social
It's when you begin to lie to yourself in a poem in order to simply make a poem, that you fail. Charles Bukowski beginfaillie Change image and share on social
We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. Charles Bukowski deathlaughlive Change image and share on social
We have wasted History like a bunch of drunks shooting dice back in the men's crapper of the local bar. Charles Bukowski backbarbunch Change image and share on social
When I say that basically writing is a hard hustle, I don't mean that it is a bad life, if one can get away with it. It's the miracle of miracles to make a living by the typer. Charles Bukowski badbasicallyhard Change image and share on social
Never envy a man his lady. Behind it all lays a living hell. Charles Bukowski envyhelllady Change image and share on social
Shakespeare didn't work at all for me. Charles Bukowski shakespearework Change image and share on social
I kept writing not because I felt I was so good, but because I felt they were so bad, including Shakespeare, all those. The stilted formalism, like chewing cardboard. Charles Bukowski badcardboardchew Change image and share on social
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. Charles Bukowski bumlawmoral Change image and share on social