--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: if the rest of the world could see you…" description: "\"“if the rest of the world could see you today their laughter would bring the sun to its knees and even the flowers would leap from the ground like bull..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg" --- # if the rest of the world could see you today their… ![“if the rest of the world could see you today their laughter would bring the sun to its knees and even the flowers would leap from the ground like bulldogs and chase you away to where you belong wherever that is, and who cares where it is as long as it’s somewhere away from here.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg) > ““if the rest of the world could see you today their laughter would bring the sun to its knees and even the flowers would leap from the ground like bulldogs and chase you away to where you belong wherever that is, and who cares where it is as long as it’s somewhere away from here.”” [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. If everyone saw you, their mockery would overwhelm you, driving you far away. **In simple terms:** Public ridicule can push you to escape. Key Takeaway Seek supportive environments. Themes rejection humor alienation escape identity Mood cynical defiant Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - creative work - public spaces Key Concepts social perception self-worth Questions to Reflect On - What spaces make you feel safe from ridicule? - How can you turn mockery into motivation? A Different Perspective Humor can be weaponized; not all criticism is destructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) ## Related quotes > [Sweet May lies fresh before us, To life the young flowers leap, And through the Heaven's blue o'er us The rosy cloudlets sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/sweet-may-lies-fresh-before-us-to-life-the-young-flowers-leap-and/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [“What I want from you is simple. I want today only. If it’s laughter, I want it. If it’s pain, I want it. Whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-love/what-i-want-from-you-is-simple-i-want-today-only-if-it-s-laughter-i/) [D. Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-love/) > [After a longtime I have come today, laughter, tears coming again to bring back the smile,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/after-a-longtime-i-have-come-today-laughter-tears-coming-again-to/) Mak\_786 > [If Love.. If love was snow I'd build you a igloo. If love was the sun I'd bring you the sun. If love was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-love-if-love-was-snow-i-d-build-you-a-igloo-if-love-was-the-sun-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every day, I bring the sun around, I sweep away the clouds, Smile for me. I would take, Every second, every single time, Spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara/every-day-i-bring-the-sun-around-i-sweep-away-the-clouds-smile-for-me/) [Kiara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara/) > [I'll show you all of the places I'm dreaming of. I'll take you to the Ocean, I'll bring the Sun. We are seventeen, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/i-ll-show-you-all-of-the-places-i-m-dreaming-of-i-ll-take-you-to-the/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [Can you bring me sunrise, can you bring me the sunrise? Can you bring the sun in my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inna/can-you-bring-me-sunrise-can-you-bring-me-the-sunrise-can-you-bring/) [Inna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inna/) > [“Bring me the moon and the stars, Ram,’ said Sita, draped in a red sari, playing with her hair tied to a red ribbon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-rana/bring-me-the-moon-and-the-stars-ram-said-sita-draped-in-a-red-sari/) [Deepak Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-rana/) > [I don't bring the sun around but whatever it is I guess I'm related to it cause I'm hotter just like the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-quperlier/i-don-t-bring-the-sun-around-but-whatever-it-is-i-guess-i-m-related/) [Simon Quperlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-quperlier/) > [Why's it so sunny?" she repeated. Zooey observed her rather narrowly. "I bring the sun wherever I go, buddy," he said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-s-it-so-sunny-she-repeated-zooey-observed-her-rather-narrowly-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and we are in bed together laughing and we don’t care about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/and-we-are-in-bed-together-laughing-and-we-don-t-care-about-anything/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) ## 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 Laughter quotes > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [Laughter is one of the great beacons in life because we don't refract it by gunning it through our intellectual prism. What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [“Laughter sometimes hurts us, and sometimes it makes us feel better. No matter how down you feel... laughter brings a new ray of hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiko-tobe/laughter-sometimes-hurts-us-and-sometimes-it-makes-us-feel-better-no/) [Keiko Tobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiko-tobe/) > [Edgy is fine - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination - but what's wrong with a good ol' belly laugh?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/edgy-is-fine-i-m-not-a-prude-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-but/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [Nothing's funnier to me than laughing at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/nothing-s-funnier-to-me-than-laughing-at-myself/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [“A long, loud, and canorous peal of laughter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-quincey/a-long-loud-and-canorous-peal-of-laughter/) [Thomas de Quincey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-quincey/) > [There isn't a sound better than your own child's laugh...There isn't a sight better than your own child's smile...and Nothing is better than being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/there-isn-t-a-sound-better-than-your-own-child-s-laugh-there-isn-t-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [What I like to think I've done is try to teach all women and my three female daughters, to teach them to rise above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joely-fisher/what-i-like-to-think-i-ve-done-is-try-to-teach-all-women-and-my-three/) [Joely Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joely-fisher/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [Spirituality does not have to be serious. You are spirituality. Fun laughter heal you faster than anything. Introduce fun back into your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/spirituality-does-not-have-to-be-serious-you-are-spirituality-fun/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) [Browse all 5,682 Laughter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“if the rest of the world could see you today their laughter would bring the sun to its knees and even the flowers would leap from the ground like bulldogs and chase you away to where you belong wherever that is, and who cares where it is as long as it’s somewhere away from here.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-today-their-laughter-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Laughter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-today-their-laughter-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/charles-bukowski-73_laughter_if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-t_2943818.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“if the rest of the world could see you today their laughter would bring the sun to its knees and even the…” — 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": "“if the rest of the world...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-today-their-laughter-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-the-rest-of-the-world-could-see-you-today-their-laughter-would/#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 } } ] } ```