Bed Quote by Charles Bukowski
“there was something about that city, though it didn't let me feel guilty that I had no feeling for the things so many others needed. it let me alone. sitting up in my bed the lights out, hearing the outside sounds, lifting my cheap bottle of wine, letting the warmth of the grape enter me as I heard the rats moving about the room, I preferred them to humans. being lost, being crazy maybe is not so bad if you can be that way undisturbed. New Orleans gave me that. nobody ever called my name.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Post Office, Charles Bukowski, 1971
The narrator finds solace in isolation and the raw, unfiltered experience of city life, preferring the authenticity of rats over human interaction.
In simple terms: Isolation can feel liberating amid a chaotic city.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitude and authentic experiences.
Themes
solitude
urban life
authenticity
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- late night reflection
- drinking alone
- observing city sounds
- accepting loneliness
Key Concepts
existentialism
urban alienation
self-acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever prefer non‑human company?
- What does the city reveal about yourself?
A Different Perspective
Such isolation may lead to deeper alienation.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
