--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The public is fortunate. Everything…" description: "\"“The public is fortunate. Everything pleases them: icecream cones, rock concerts, singing, swinging, love, hate, masturbation, hot dogs, country dances..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/charles-bukowski-73_love-hate_the-public-is-fortunate-everything-pleas_1400538.jpg" --- # The public is fortunate. Everything pleases them: icecream… ![“The public is fortunate. Everything pleases them: icecream cones, rock concerts, singing, swinging, love, hate, masturbation, hot dogs, country dances, Jesus Christ, roller skating, spiritualism, capitalism, communism, circumcision, comic strips, Bob Hope, skiing, fishing murder bowling debating…” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/charles-bukowski-73_love-hate_the-public-is-fortunate-everything-pleas_1400538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/charles-bukowski-73_love-hate_the-public-is-fortunate-everything-pleas_1400538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/charles-bukowski-73_love-hate_the-public-is-fortunate-everything-pleas_1400538.jpg) > ““The public is fortunate. Everything pleases them: icecream cones, rock concerts, singing, swinging, love, hate, masturbation, hot dogs, country dances, Jesus Christ, roller skating, spiritualism, capitalism, communism, circumcision, comic strips, Bob Hope, skiing, fishing murder bowling debating, anything. They don’t expect much and they don’t get much. They are one grand gang.”” [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 satirically lists society’s trivial pleasures, suggesting people settle for shallow contentment. **In simple terms:** People accept simple joys. Key Takeaway Recognize depth beyond surface. Themes society satire materialism Mood cynical reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - urban life - media consumption - social gatherings Key Concepts consumer culture existential emptiness Questions to Reflect On - What does this list reveal about modern values? - How can deeper fulfillment be pursued? A Different Perspective Satire may overlook systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob-hope/) [Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) [Fortunate Pleases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate-pleases-4906222/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Grand Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grand-gang-4906221/) [Hot dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot-dogs/) [Love Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-hate/) [Public Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-fortunate-4906220/) [Roller skating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roller-skating/) ## Related quotes > [Politics is like roller skating. You go partly where you want to go, and partly where the damn things take you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-f-ashurst/politics-is-like-roller-skating-you-go-partly-where-you-want-to-go/) [Henry F. Ashurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-f-ashurst/) > [That's where you just have to get creative. There are all these trampoline parks and there's bowling and there's roller skating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/that-s-where-you-just-have-to-get-creative-there-are-all-these/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Roller-skating and ice-skating are two different things - I found that out the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-bridges/roller-skating-and-ice-skating-are-two-different-things-i-found-that/) [Todd Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-bridges/) > [“I took one look at it and demanded that he name three things he isn't good at. "Roller skating, singing, and talking to girls."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-took-one-look-at-it-and-demanded-that-he-name-three-things-he-isn-t/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/talent-without-discipline-is-like-an-octopus-on-roller-skates/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [I was an ambidextrous child, and the symmetry of roller skating was a welcome respite from my awkwardness with physical activities that involved a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/i-was-an-ambidextrous-child-and-the-symmetry-of-roller-skating-was-a/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [Acting is like roller skating. Once you know how to do it, it is neither stimulating nor exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/acting-is-like-roller-skating-once-you-know-how-to-do-it-it-is/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [I started skating at age 2 on roller skates on the South Side of Chicago, where I grew up. By age 4, roller-skating was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-davis/i-started-skating-at-age-2-on-roller-skates-on-the-south-side-of/) [Shani Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-davis/) > [“There are details about your life I really do not want to know about. You told me he taught you how to fight with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-abshire/there-are-details-about-your-life-i-really-do-not-want-to-know-about/) [Mary Abshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-abshire/) > [I used to ice skate at parties when I was eight, but that was sort of the extent of roller skating, ice skating, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-scanlen/i-used-to-ice-skate-at-parties-when-i-was-eight-but-that-was-sort-of/) [Eliza Scanlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-scanlen/) > [Being from Detroit, I often went to the roller skating rink. I can skate backwards, forwards, and even twirl on skates, LOL!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenya-moore/being-from-detroit-i-often-went-to-the-roller-skating-rink-i-can/) [Kenya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenya-moore/) > [I'm the youngest, too. When you're the youngest of a big family, people are like, "You're the baby, you're spoiled!" The fact of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-m-the-youngest-too-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-a-big-family-people/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I like to roller skate. I have been roller skating since I was eight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-foy/i-like-to-roller-skate-i-have-been-roller-skating-since-i-was-eight/) [Mackenzie Foy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-foy/) > [I figure if I keep my health, I have no intention of retiring. I love to work. I want to be like Bob Hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-figure-if-i-keep-my-health-i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-i-love/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Over the past 50 years Bob Hope employed 88 joke writers who supplied him with more than one million gags, and he still couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/over-the-past-50-years-bob-hope-employed-88-joke-writers-who-supplied/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) ## 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 Fortunate quotes > [It is indeed a surprising and fortunate fact that nature can be expressed by relatively low-order mathematical functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/it-is-indeed-a-surprising-and-fortunate-fact-that-nature-can-be/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [I have been very fortunate to have a partner who really stepped up and have wonderful children who do a lot of things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-have-been-very-fortunate-to-have-a-partner-who-really-stepped-up/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [We are very fortunate to be recognized here in such an extraordinary manner for work that we enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-altman/we-are-very-fortunate-to-be-recognized-here-in-such-an-extraordinary/) [Sidney Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-altman/) > [Most magicians consider the palm an easy move to make. They are inclined to believe that they are 'getting away with it,' when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dai-vernon/most-magicians-consider-the-palm-an-easy-move-to-make-they-are/) [Dai Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dai-vernon/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. I was really happy that I got everyone that I got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/a-perfect-movie-is-a-different-thing-but-a-funny-movie-is-easy-i-was/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [We in Illinois are very fortunate to have a number of historic structures that have added immeasurably to the cultural life of the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-thompson/we-in-illinois-are-very-fortunate-to-have-a-number-of-historic/) [James R. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-thompson/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [As a fan of the books, I feel fortunate to be part of 'The Hunger Games' family. It was an amazing experience; I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/as-a-fan-of-the-books-i-feel-fortunate-to-be-part-of-the-hunger-games/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I just don't think of myself as a star. This is what I do for a living; I'm fortunate that I make ends meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-star-this-is-what-i-do-for-a-living/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I'm fortunate in one way and I can take pride from the fact that I've consistently performed for 10 years, which is something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/i-m-fortunate-in-one-way-and-i-can-take-pride-from-the-fact-that-i-ve/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [I'm very fortunate in my life to be able to do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-draper/i-m-very-fortunate-in-my-life-to-be-able-to-do-what-i-want-to-do/) [Jack Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-draper/) [Browse all 2,107 Fortunate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The public is fortunate. 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