--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: R.O.TC. kept me away from sports while…" description: "\"“R.O.TC. kept me away from sports while the other guys practiced every day. They made the school teams, won their letters and got the girls. My days we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/charles-bukowski-73_blue-and-white_r-o-tc-kept-me-away-from-sports-while-th_1092256.jpg" --- # R.O.TC. kept me away from sports while the other guys… ![“R.O.TC. kept me away from sports while the other guys practiced every day. They made the school teams, won their letters and got the girls. My days were spent mostly marching around in the sun. All you ever saw were the backs of some guy's ears and his buttocks. I quickly became disenchanted with…” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/charles-bukowski-73_blue-and-white_r-o-tc-kept-me-away-from-sports-while-th_1092256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/charles-bukowski-73_blue-and-white_r-o-tc-kept-me-away-from-sports-while-th_1092256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/charles-bukowski-73_blue-and-white_r-o-tc-kept-me-away-from-sports-while-th_1092256.jpg) > ““R.O.TC. kept me away from sports while the other guys practiced every day. They made the school teams, won their letters and got the girls. My days were spent mostly marching around in the sun. All you ever saw were the backs of some guy's ears and his buttocks. I quickly became disenchanted with military proceedings. The others shined their shoes brightly and seemed to go through maneuvers with relish. I couldn't see any sense in it. They were just getting shaped up in order to get their balls blown off later. On the other hand, I couldn't see myself crouched down in a football helmet, shoulder pads laced on, decked out in Blue and White, #69, trying to move out some brute with tacos on his breath so that the son of the district attorney could slant off left tackle for six yards. The problem was you had to keep choosing between on evil or another, and no matter what you chose, they sliced a little bit more off you, until there was nothing left. At the age of 25, most people were finished. A whole god-damned nation of assholes driving automobiles, eating, having babies, doing everything in the worst way possible, like voting for the presidential candidate who reminded them most of themselves.”” [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. Describes feeling trapped between oppressive choices, leading to disillusionment with society. **In simple terms:** Life feels like forced decisions. Key Takeaway Recognize and question oppressive systems. Themes disillusionment choice societal pressure Mood cynical critical darkly humorous Type satirical social commentary When to use this quote - military service - sports culture - career paths - political voting Key Concepts existentialism social critique Questions to Reflect On - What choices feel forced in your life? - How can you find agency within constraints? A Different Perspective May overgeneralize and ignore positive aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blue and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue-and-white/) [Presidential candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-candidate/) ## Related quotes > [The problem was you had to keep choosing between one evil or another, and no matter what you chose, they sliced a little more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-problem-was-you-had-to-keep-choosing-between-one-evil-or-another-3/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“At the age of 25 most people were finished. 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You can't move in Edinburgh or Glasgow without seeing a blue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/the-scottish-aren-t-embarrassed-about-their-nation-or-their-flag-far/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Meanwhile, as we read, two little girls slept as if couched on zephyrs on the south side of the parlor floor, in a room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cantwell/meanwhile-as-we-read-two-little-girls-slept-as-if-couched-on-zephyrs/) [Mary Cantwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cantwell/) > [Early violets blue and white Dying for their love of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/early-violets-blue-and-white-dying-for-their-love-of-light/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [“A city of squalls, foggy mornings, intervals of blue and white so immaculate the eyes ached. 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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 Assholes quotes > [“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! 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There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Half the time, people just want to be assholes, so they call it rebellion. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-konen/half-the-time-people-just-want-to-be-assholes-so-they-call-it/) [Leah Konen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-konen/) > [“What a mealy-mouth. Windier than a bag of assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ross/what-a-mealy-mouth-windier-than-a-bag-of-assholes/) [Rodney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ross/) > [Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/excuses-are-like-assholes-everyone-has-one/) Author Name > [“You hear this kind of thing, rednecks and their guys and--" "Don't call them that," I say. "They're just assholes. Most people you run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/you-hear-this-kind-of-thing-rednecks-and-their-guys-and-don-t-call/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [Guys annoy me so much -.- it's like they study to be an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guys-annoy-me-so-much-it-s-like-they-study-to-be-an-asshole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“New Rule: Democrats must get in touch with their inner asshole. I refer to the case of Van Jones, the man the Obama administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-democrats-must-get-in-touch-with-their-inner-asshole-i-refer/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“People hate it when you call them on jackassery. 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My days were spent mostly marching around in the sun. All you ever saw were the backs of some guy's ears and his buttocks. I quickly became disenchanted with military proceedings. The others shined their shoes brightly and seemed to go through maneuvers with relish. I couldn't see any sense in it. They were just getting shaped up in order to get their balls blown off later. On the other hand, I couldn't see myself crouched down in a football helmet, shoulder pads laced on, decked out in Blue and White, #69, trying to move out some brute with tacos on his breath so that the son of the district attorney could slant off left tackle for six yards. The problem was you had to keep choosing between on evil or another, and no matter what you chose, they sliced a little bit more off you, until there was nothing left. At the age of 25, most people were finished. 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