--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: nobody can save you but yourself and…" description: "\"nobody can save you but yourself and you’re worth saving. it’s a war not easily won but if anything is worth winning then this is it.\" — Charles Bukowski" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg" --- # nobody can save you but yourself and you’re worth saving… ![“nobody can save you but yourself and you’re worth saving. it’s a war not easily won but if anything is worth winning then this is it.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg) > “nobody can save you but yourself and you’re worth saving. it’s a war not easily won but if anything is worth winning then this is it.” [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. Self‑reliance is essential; personal worth justifies fighting a difficult battle. **In simple terms:** You must save yourself; the fight is worth it. Key Takeaway Believe in your own value and fight. Themes self‑esteem struggle victory Mood determined hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - addiction recovery - career challenges - mental health Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What inner strengths can you cultivate? - How do you recognize when to seek help? A Different Perspective Self‑reliance can ignore needed support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“Nobody can save you but yourself. You will be put again and again into nearly impossible situations. They will attempt again and again through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-you-will-be-put-again-and-again-into/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [War can so easily be gilt with romance and heroism and solemn national duty and patriotism and the like by persons whose superficial literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/war-can-so-easily-be-gilt-with-romance-and-heroism-and-solemn/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [It is inhuman to continue a war which could easily be ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/it-is-inhuman-to-continue-a-war-which-could-easily-be-ended/) [Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/) > [“Sometimes I didn’t think the world was worth it. Saving. Sometimes I didn’t think I was worth it either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/sometimes-i-didn-t-think-the-world-was-worth-it-saving-sometimes-i/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“We humans need one another. We live in a big house with many rooms. Right now our home is on fire. If you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivory-simone/we-humans-need-one-another-we-live-in-a-big-house-with-many-rooms/) Ivory Simone > [“...but I wished I could convince her that she didn't have to be anything in particular to be worth saving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/but-i-wished-i-could-convince-her-that-she-didn-t-have-to-be-anything/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [The English as a race are not worth saving!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/the-english-as-a-race-are-not-worth-saving/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [“I'm not trying to save the world, much of it is not worth saving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shors/i-m-not-trying-to-save-the-world-much-of-it-is-not-worth-saving/) [John Shors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shors/) > [If character be irrecoverably lost, then indeed there will be nothing left worth saving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/if-character-be-irrecoverably-lost-then-indeed-there-will-be-nothing/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“There has to be a Fjerda worth saving. Promise me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-has-to-be-a-fjerda-worth-saving-promise-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Sometimes a man and a woman reach a crossroads and linger there, reluctant to take either way, knowing the wrong choice will mean the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sometimes-a-man-and-a-woman-reach-a-crossroads-and-linger-there/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“You and that girl together, well...let's just say, you might be the one to lose, my man." "Thanks, bro, but losing her wouldn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevaeh-lee/you-and-that-girl-together-well-let-s-just-say-you-might-be-the-one/) [Nevaeh Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevaeh-lee/) > [Most writers steal a good thing when they can, and when 'Tis safely got 'Tis worth the winning. The worst of 't is we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/most-writers-steal-a-good-thing-when-they-can-and-when-tis-safely-got/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [If I am not worth the wooing, I surely am not worth the winning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/if-i-am-not-worth-the-wooing-i-surely-am-not-worth-the-winning/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [If I am not worth the wooing, I am surely not worth the winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-am-not-worth-the-wooing-i-am-surely-not-worth-the-winning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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. 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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 Saving quotes > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“Saving History One Story at a Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwsa-website/saving-history-one-story-at-a-time/) MWSA website > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [Never invest emergency savings in the stock market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/never-invest-emergency-savings-in-the-stock-market/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [The older I get, the more I'm saving the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-m-saving-the-day/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [I believe keeping our promises should be our highest priority and that means saving Social Security and Medicare while preserving the American dream for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-believe-keeping-our-promises-should-be-our-highest-priority-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [A faithfully kept program of savings and conservative investments can give you more money and a better life than that of your neighbors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bryant-quinn/a-faithfully-kept-program-of-savings-and-conservative-investments-can/) [Jane Bryant Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bryant-quinn/) > [Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/your-goal-should-be-to-pay-off-your-credit-card-bills-in-full-at-the/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [She sang as if she was saving the life of every person in the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/she-sang-as-if-she-was-saving-the-life-of-every-person-in-the-room/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [When we struggle for human rights, for freedom, for dignity, when we feel that it is a ministry of the church to concern itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-struggle-for-human-rights-for-freedom-for-dignity-when-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Saving others is always more important than saving yourself. It has to be, or none of us would do any good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/saving-others-is-always-more-important-than-saving-yourself-it-has-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Unequal distribution of income is an excessively uneconomic method of getting the necessary saving done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/unequal-distribution-of-income-is-an-excessively-uneconomic-method-of/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [“People do not need saving. People need love, support, and encouragement that they can withstand any trials and will always come out stronger, wiser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-l-weiss/people-do-not-need-saving-people-need-love-support-and-encouragement/) [Brian L. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-l-weiss/) > [I hate weekends because there is no stock market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-rivkin/i-hate-weekends-because-there-is-no-stock-market/) Rene Rivkin [Browse all 1,632 Saving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "nobody can save you but yourself and you’re worth saving. it’s a war not easily won but if anything is worth winning then this is it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you-re-worth-saving-it-s-a-war/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Saving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you-re-worth-saving-it-s-a-war/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/charles-bukowski-73_saving_nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you_375294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“nobody can save you but yourself and you’re worth saving. it’s a war not easily won but if anything is worth…” — 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": "nobody can save you but yourself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you-re-worth-saving-it-s-a-war/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nobody-can-save-you-but-yourself-and-you-re-worth-saving-it-s-a-war/#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 } } ] } ```