Awful Quote by Charles Bukowski
“They have no idea that it can be done by a bus driver, a field hand, or a fry cook. They have no idea where it comes from. It comes from pain, damnation and impossibility. The blow to the soul of the gut. It comes from getting burned and seared and slugged. It comes from...new and awful places and the same old places.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Post Office by Charles Bukowski, 1971
The quote highlights that raw creative power arises from hardship, low‑status work, and intense suffering, not from privileged origins.
In simple terms: Creative energy comes from pain and gritty work.
Key Takeaway
Embrace hardship as a source of inspiration.
Themes
creativity
hardship
authenticity
class
pain
Mood
raw
defiant
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- artistic pursuits
- personal resilience
- social critique
Key Concepts
existentialism
raw expression
working class literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does suffering shape your creative output?
- Can art arise without struggle?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the value of privilege and education in fostering creativity.
