Five Smart Quotes By Charles Bukowski

Some of Charles Bukowski’s quotes are controversial. This German author, who also became a US citizen, was quite critical. He loved to expose the contradictions of modern society, as well as hypocrisy and lack of meaning.

Bukowski is considered one of the greatest representatives of dirty realism. This movement aims to reflect the most decadent things about society. It arose in response to the disillusionment and lack of meaning that characterized life after the horrors of World War II.

His quotes conjugate lament in lyrical style. He spoke of human selfishness, social cruelty and political hypocrisy. He did not believe in ideals or utopias. On the contrary, he clearly claimed to be a pessimist and did not believe in the future. Still, his work is incredibly moving. These are some of his best quotes.

1. The intellectual and the artist

Some of Charles Bukowski’s quotes are amusing. In this quote, for example, he plays with words, to convey a graceful message with sarcasm.

It is obvious that by comparing the intellectual with the artist, he also confronts reason and sensitivity. He says that an artist has more wisdom.

2. A quote by Charles Bukowski on society

This is another Bukowski quote that perfectly reflects his thoughts. As a critic of North American society, he never stopped pointing out its faults. He also talked a lot about its contradictions.

In this quote , he revealed the paradox that is the fact that society was not formed by the actions of the members, but instead by their lack of action. And he includes himself among those who do things automatically.

3. Intelligent people

This quote became very popular. Through it, Bukowski emphasized the fact that true intelligence prevents security. Anyone who looks beyond the apparent has doubts about what is real and the extent of reality and its implications.

Instead, those who do not believe, do not see, or do not want to see, easily listen to small absolute truths. They are sure of many things, so they do not ask them questions or put them to the test. That’s what makes them “stupid” and full of confidence at the same time.

4. Die to truly live

This quote reflects Charles Bukowski’s poetic and sensitive side. This is one of his few hopeful quotes. Although this quote sounds pessimistic, it ends in an optimistic way.

This quote talks about life as something that challenges linearity. You are born and you die a few times. In order to live, we must complete the cycle several times. This means that we must end everything in order to be born again. This is the only way to truly live.

5. What really matters

In this quote, Charles Bukowski brought his didactic side and hidden kindness to light. Fire, in this case, refers to that which harms, destroys or attacks our integrity.

Going through the fire therefore means having the ability to keep moving forward among destructive forces that plague humans. According to him, the most important thing is: to walk through the brutal paths without burning yourself.

Charles Bukowski left us with controversial and daring quotes that perfectly represent a rotten society.