--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But trouble and pain were what kept a man…" description: "\"“But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying to avoid trouble and pain. It was a full time job.”\" — Charles Bukowski" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg" --- # But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying… ![“But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying to avoid trouble and pain. It was a full time job.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg) > ““But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying to avoid trouble and pain. It was a full time job.”” [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pain and trouble are essential motivators for survival, not something to be avoided. **In simple terms:** Pain drives life. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges. Themes survival motivation pain Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - risk taking - overcoming fear Key Concepts existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - What challenges keep you alive? - How do you balance pain and pleasure? A Different Perspective Pain can also cause suffering if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Avoid Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid-trouble/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I began to feel like a kept man and it felt great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-began-to-feel-like-a-kept-man-and-it-felt-great/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Men wanted me. They all did, however briefly, but none of them wanted to keep me. That's what I needed. I needed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-amelie/men-wanted-me-they-all-did-however-briefly-but-none-of-them-wanted-to/) [Fisher Amelie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-amelie/) > [It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/it-is-impossible-to-be-a-maverick-or-a-true-original-if-you-re-too/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [There is a time when to avoid trouble is to store up trouble, and when to seek for a lazy and a cowardly peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/there-is-a-time-when-to-avoid-trouble-is-to-store-up-trouble-and-when/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [The trouble about pain is, it always demand to be felt...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-r-aquino/the-trouble-about-pain-is-it-always-demand-to-be-felt/) [Leonora R Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-r-aquino/) > [Bitterness grows in us when we fail to see the trouble and pain in our lives from God's point of view, and when our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/bitterness-grows-in-us-when-we-fail-to-see-the-trouble-and-pain-in/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [“persons who go through a great deal of trouble or pain to attain something tend to value it more highly than persons who attain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/persons-who-go-through-a-great-deal-of-trouble-or-pain-to-attain/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [You're the only person who will protect me.there's no trouble, no pain when I'm with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa/you-re-the-only-person-who-will-protect-me-there-s-no-trouble-no-pain/) [Israa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa/) > [“That's the trouble with pain, Ellie. If you're lucky, you can wear it for all the world to see. Most people have their pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/that-s-the-trouble-with-pain-ellie-if-you-re-lucky-you-can-wear-it/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“If people were less the centre of their own universe much trouble and pain would be saved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-c/if-people-were-less-the-centre-of-their-own-universe-much-trouble-and/) S.M. C > [“Why are the most painful memories also the sweetest; why does the sweetness always draw us back no matter how long the pain might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/why-are-the-most-painful-memories-also-the-sweetest-why-does-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“She was capable of causing me pain, but no longer any joy. Pain alone kept my wearisome attachment alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/she-was-capable-of-causing-me-pain-but-no-longer-any-joy-pain-alone/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [My story goes like this. My parent would fight every second of the day. I would lock myself in my room and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-story-goes-like-this-my-parent-would-fight-every-second-of-the-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a practical sense, pain kept me from sitting down as much, so that sometimes I would have to stand to write. Not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/in-a-practical-sense-pain-kept-me-from-sitting-down-as-much-so-that/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) > [Jennifer had never liked the pain of remembering what had happened, but for Theo it was the pain that kept Laura alive in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/jennifer-had-never-liked-the-pain-of-remembering-what-had-happened/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) ## More by Charles Bukowski > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“There is only one place to write and that is alone at a typewriter. A writer who has to go into the streets is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/there-is-only-one-place-to-write-and-that-is-alone-at-a-typewriter-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“nerves twitching in the sheets -- to face the sunlight again, that's clearly trouble. I like the city better when the neon lights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nerves-twitching-in-the-sheets-to-face-the-sunlight-again-that-s/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I climbed the stairway (there was no elevator) and put the key in. The door swung open. Somebody had changed all the furniture around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-climbed-the-stairway-there-was-no-elevator-and-put-the-key-in-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Strangers when you meet, strangers when you part -a gymnasium of bodies namelessly masturbating each other. People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I was like a turd that drew flies instead of like a flower that butterflies and bees desired. I wanted to live alone,I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-was-like-a-turd-that-drew-flies-instead-of-like-a-flower-that/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [It's 4:30 in the morning, it's always 4:30 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-4-30-in-the-morning-it-s-always-4-30-in-the-morning/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I had no feeling for the things so many others needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-had-no-feeling-for-the-things-so-many-others-needed/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I went home each night dizzy and sick. He was murdering me with the sound of his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-went-home-each-night-dizzy-and-sick-he-was-murdering-me-with-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Explore all 1,492 Charles Bukowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying to avoid trouble and pain. It was a full time job.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-man-alive-or-trying-to-avoid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-man-alive-or-trying-to-avoid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/charles-bukowski-73_alive_but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-ma_219713.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying to avoid trouble and pain. It was a full time job.” — Charles Bukowski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Bukowski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But trouble and pain were what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-man-alive-or-trying-to-avoid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/but-trouble-and-pain-were-what-kept-a-man-alive-or-trying-to-avoid/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```