I carry death in my left pocket. Sometimes I take it out and... - Charles Bukowski

"When I begin to doubt my ability to work the word, I simply read another writer and know I have nothing to worry about. My contest is only with myself, to do it right, with power, and force, and delight, and gamble."

"those who escape hellhowevernever talk aboutitand nothing muchbothers themafterthat."

"Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink."

"To me, nudity is a joke. I don't think nude people are very attractive at all. I like my women fully clothed. I like to imagine what might be under there. It might not be the standard thing. Imagine, stripping a woman down, and she has a body like a little submarine. With periscope, propellers, torpedoes. That would be the one for me. I'd marry her right off and be faithful to the end."

"Real loneliness is not necessarily limited to when you are alone."