--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remembered my New Orleans days, living…" description: "\"I remembered my New Orleans days, living on two five-cent candy bars a day for weeks at a time in order to have leisure to write. But starvation, unfor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/charles-bukowski-73_art_i-remembered-my-new-orleans-days-living_1865672.jpg" --- # I remembered my New Orleans days, living on two five-cent… ![“I remembered my New Orleans days, living on two five-cent candy bars a day for weeks at a time in order to have leisure to write. But starvation, unfortunately, didn't improve art. It only hindered it. A man's soul was rooted in his stomach. A man could write much better after eating a porterhouse…” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/charles-bukowski-73_art_i-remembered-my-new-orleans-days-living_1865672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/charles-bukowski-73_art_i-remembered-my-new-orleans-days-living_1865672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/charles-bukowski-73_art_i-remembered-my-new-orleans-days-living_1865672.jpg) > “I remembered my New Orleans days, living on two five-cent candy bars a day for weeks at a time in order to have leisure to write. But starvation, unfortunately, didn't improve art. It only hindered it. A man's soul was rooted in his stomach. A man could write much better after eating a porterhouse steak and drinking a pint of whiskey than he could ever write after eating a nickel candy bar. The myth of the starving artist was a hoax.” [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. The romantic myth of starving for creativity is false; basic needs must be met for artistic work. **In simple terms:** Artists need food and comfort to create well. Key Takeaway Prioritize basic needs to enhance creativity. Themes creativity basic needs myths artist life well‑being Mood pragmatic inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - writing - painting - music composition - performance - entrepreneurship Key Concepts physiology motivation self‑care Questions to Reflect On - What essential comforts boost your creative output? - How does comfort influence artistic authenticity? A Different Perspective Neglecting health can lead to burnout despite artistic ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candy/) [Candy bar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candy-bar/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Hoaxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoaxes/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [New orleans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-orleans/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Starvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starvation/) [Starving artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starving-artist/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Whiskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiskey/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was a starving artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-jayne/i-was-a-starving-artist/) [Erika Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-jayne/) > [I didn't really go the starving-artist route. I kind of went and did massive, commercial things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/i-didn-t-really-go-the-starving-artist-route-i-kind-of-went-and-did/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [“If you see me sitting at a dining room table with a clean plate and bowl in front of me, you’ll know it’s because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-you-see-me-sitting-at-a-dining-room-table-with-a-clean-plate-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [In college I took an acting class as a joke. It sounded like something fun and easy at the time. 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So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/sometimes-the-gap-between-what-you-are-and-what-you-want-to-be-is-a/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [I'm an entrepreneur, a businessman. I've got a lot of money, and that doesn't go very well with the whole 'starving artist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-m-an-entrepreneur-a-businessman-i-ve-got-a-lot-of-money-and-that/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [“ I was born, slipping on a symphony of broken melancholy; created of pencils and crayons; i was not supposed to be this way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-sturgill/i-was-born-slipping-on-a-symphony-of-broken-melancholy-created-of/) Emily Sturgill > [For the starving artist, opportunity is a must - for the weary dreamer procrastination is disgust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rukiya-productions/for-the-starving-artist-opportunity-is-a-must-for-the-weary-dreamer/) Rukiya Productions > [When I was writing my first novel a friend told me I should apply for a grant from the government that was offered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-flynn/when-i-was-writing-my-first-novel-a-friend-told-me-i-should-apply-for/) [Vince Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-flynn/) > [I'm transitioning from being a starving artist. My producers had success outside of the Daniel Caesar brand, so they invested money, time and resources.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/i-m-transitioning-from-being-a-starving-artist-my-producers-had/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [Starving artist' is acceptable at age 20, suspect at age 40, and problematical at age 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/starving-artist-is-acceptable-at-age-20-suspect-at-age-40-and/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) ## 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. 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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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remembered my New Orleans days, living on two five-cent candy bars a day for weeks at a time in order to have leisure to write. 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