--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was true that I didn’t have much…" description: "\"“It was true that I didn’t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I mean a better place than the one usually re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg" --- # It was true that I didn’t have much ambition, but there… ![“It was true that I didn’t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I mean a better place than the one usually reserved. How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 6:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, brush teeth…” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg) > ““It was true that I didn’t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I mean a better place than the one usually reserved. How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 6:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, brush teeth and hair, and fight traffic to get to a place where essentially you made lots of money for somebody else and were asked to be grateful for the opportunity to do so?”” [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. He critiques the drudgery of modern work and the expectation to be grateful for it. **In simple terms:** Work feels pointless and oppressive. Key Takeaway Question societal norms about labor. Themes work alienation ambition gratitude Mood skeptical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - office jobs - gig economy - career counseling - personal fulfillment Key Concepts existentialism capitalism critique Questions to Reflect On - What would a fulfilling day look like for you? - Can you create value outside traditional jobs? A Different Perspective Not everyone finds meaning in conventional employment; alternatives exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alarm clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm-clock/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-mean-3601870/) [Ambition Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-ought-3601868/) [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Didn Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-ambition-3601869/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-ambition-389657/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't have a burning ambition. I mean, I remember a teacher asking us, 'What do you want to do?' and I think somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-watkins/i-didn-t-have-a-burning-ambition-i-mean-i-remember-a-teacher-asking/) [Jason Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-watkins/) > [I didn't have any ambition to produce big mainstream popcorn movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-didn-t-have-any-ambition-to-produce-big-mainstream-popcorn-movies/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [A lot of people have the ambition, but they never ask themselves, Do I really believe I can do this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/a-lot-of-people-have-the-ambition-but-they-never-ask-themselves-do-i/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [I just aspire to pick people up. That's my ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/i-just-aspire-to-pick-people-up-that-s-my-ambition/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [Most people sit around and bitch, thinking if only... While few people with ambition make things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/most-people-sit-around-and-bitch-thinking-if-only-while-few-people/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [Benfica is a club of the people, with ambition domestically and in Europe and that was important to me, I really want to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/benfica-is-a-club-of-the-people-with-ambition-domestically-and-in/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [The Premiership is where you want to be; everyone does. Otherwise, you question people's ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green/the-premiership-is-where-you-want-to-be-everyone-does-otherwise-you/) [Robert Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green/) > [Eternal joy can never be taken from God's people. Therefore ambition, restlessness, and avarice can be put away for the first time as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/eternal-joy-can-never-be-taken-from-god-s-people-therefore-ambition/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [People with ambition don't give a damn what other people think of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/people-with-ambition-don-t-give-a-damn-what-other-people-think-of-them/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [Many people have the ambition to succeed; they may even have a special aptitude for their job. And yet they do not move ahead.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-dewberry/many-people-have-the-ambition-to-succeed-they-may-even-have-a-special/) [Don Dewberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-dewberry/) > [“I’m driven by what drives most people: ambition,” Rich said to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ammann/i-m-driven-by-what-drives-most-people-ambition-rich-said-to-me/) [Daniel Ammann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ammann/) > [I went into politics for the reasons most people do: ambition, self-righteousness, and a desire to help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/i-went-into-politics-for-the-reasons-most-people-do-ambition-self/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [“Spending time with people without ambition is a self-destruction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amen-muffler/spending-time-with-people-without-ambition-is-a-self-destruction/) [Amen Muffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amen-muffler/) > [People with ambition want Paolo Di Canio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/people-with-ambition-want-paolo-di-canio/) [Paolo Di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/) > [I really believe in work, work, work so my standards are very high for those people without ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/i-really-believe-in-work-work-work-so-my-standards-are-very-high-for/) [Paolo di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/) ## 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 Alarm clock quotes > [“answer. Donald’s dysfunctional belief was related to Janine’s, but he’d held on to it for much longer—a life of responsible and successful work should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/answer-donald-s-dysfunctional-belief-was-related-to-janine-s-but-he-d/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [My phone is an alarm clock, a flashlight, a music player and a digital camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-phone-is-an-alarm-clock-a-flashlight-a-music-player-and-a-digital/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Something, which the police called a bomb, had exploded in his shed. Investigations were begun, and the efforts of the authorities were soon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-von-salomon/something-which-the-police-called-a-bomb-had-exploded-in-his-shed/) [Ernst von Salomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-von-salomon/) > [Here in the UK the audience immediately reacts and they get the fact that: "What would be the most annoying thing in the world?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/here-in-the-uk-the-audience-immediately-reacts-and-they-get-the-fact/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [We've already seen digital picture frames pre-loaded with viruses; I'm not eager to have my refrigerator hacked or my alarm clock turned against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/we-ve-already-seen-digital-picture-frames-pre-loaded-with-viruses-i-m/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [The beloved may be treacherous, greasy-headed and given to evil habits, or else it can be a man in his late forties who works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/the-beloved-may-be-treacherous-greasy-headed-and-given-to-evil-habits/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [“I have a dream. And in this dream I’m under the covers in bed, just a few scant inches away from Carter’s body. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/i-have-a-dream-and-in-this-dream-i-m-under-the-covers-in-bed-just-a/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) > [“Men know what they want. Men make concrete plans. Men own alarm clocks. Men sleep on a mattress that isn’t on the floor. Men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/men-know-what-they-want-men-make-concrete-plans-men-own-alarm-clocks/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Sleeping is my drug, my bed is the dealer, and my alarm clock is the police..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-sakundiak/sleeping-is-my-drug-my-bed-is-the-dealer-and-my-alarm-clock-is-the/) [Mitchell Sakundiak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-sakundiak/) > [“Tip #2: No more alarm clocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-conroy/tip-2-no-more-alarm-clocks/) [Mary Helen Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-conroy/) > [“(On differences between men and boys) Men know what they want. Men make concrete plans. Men own alarm clocks. Men sleep on a mattress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/on-differences-between-men-and-boys-men-know-what-they-want-men-make/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [As a performer, I wanted to be the loudest, most persistent alarm clock I could be, because there didn’t seem like any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/as-a-performer-i-wanted-to-be-the-loudest-most-persistent-alarm-clock/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [Stress is an alarm clock that lets you know you're attached to something not true for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/stress-is-an-alarm-clock-that-lets-you-know-you-re-attached-to/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“You know the horrible life of the alarm clock – it’s a monster that has always appalled me because of the number of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-vache/you-know-the-horrible-life-of-the-alarm-clock-it-s-a-monster-that-has/) [Jacques Vache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-vache/) > [I could barely function as an adult; I slept through alarm clocks and lost train tickets mid-journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-pascoe/i-could-barely-function-as-an-adult-i-slept-through-alarm-clocks-and/) [Sara Pascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-pascoe/) [Browse all 255 Alarm clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm-clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was true that I didn’t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I mean a better place than the one usually reserved. How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 6:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, brush teeth and hair, and fight traffic to get to a place where essentially you made lots of money for somebody else and were asked to be grateful for the opportunity to do so?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambition-but-there-ought-to-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alarm clock" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambition-but-there-ought-to-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/charles-bukowski-73_alarm-clock_it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambi_1201038.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was true that I didn’t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I…” — 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": "“It was true that I didn’t...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambition-but-there-ought-to-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-was-true-that-i-didn-t-have-much-ambition-but-there-ought-to-be-a/#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 } } ] } ```