--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what…" description: "\"“Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what can I do to make my work better?’” “No shit?” “No shit.” “What’d he say?” “He said, ‘I can’t tell you anythin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg" --- # Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what can I do to make… ![“Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what can I do to make my work better?’” “No shit?” “No shit.” “What’d he say?” “He said, ‘I can’t tell you anything about your work. You must do it all by yourself.’” “Ha.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg) > ““Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what can I do to make my work better?’” “No shit?” “No shit.” “What’d he say?” “He said, ‘I can’t tell you anything about your work. You must do it all by yourself.’” “Ha.”” [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. Seeking external advice often yields no new insight; true improvement comes from personal effort. **In simple terms:** Improvement requires personal work. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your own work. Themes self‑reliance creativity effort Mood reflective challenging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing - artistic projects - career development - problem solving Key Concepts independence self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What can you do alone? - How does self‑reliance feel? A Different Perspective Relying on others can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Asked Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-said-598900/) [Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master/) [Said Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-master-289700/) [Tell Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-work-438435/) ## Related quotes > [“The best things in life are FREE and available in abundance...” said the Master.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-rajan-vivek/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-and-available-in-abundance-said-the/) [Vivek Rajan Vivek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-rajan-vivek/) > [What is the work of a Master?" said a solemn-faced visitor. "To teach people to laugh ," said the Master gravely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-solemn-faced-visitor-to-teach/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Wouldn't he know without being asked?' said Polly. 'I've no doubt he would,' said the Horse (still with his mouth full). 'But I've a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wouldn-t-he-know-without-being-asked-said-polly-i-ve-no-doubt-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you weren’t there, how do you know someone pushed her?” Sergeant Kenn asked. “Well …,” said Jared. “And what were you doing, running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/if-you-weren-t-there-how-do-you-know-someone-pushed-her-sergeant-kenn/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“If you ask people where they go when they really need to get work done, very few will respond “the office.” If they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-ask-people-where-they-go-when-they-really-need-to-get-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doing something you enjoy at times of your own choosing and making a living from it: now tell me, is that work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/doing-something-you-enjoy-at-times-of-your-own-choosing-and-making-a/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Any time you have to tell work where you're at and what you're doing, that's considered an employee, not a contractor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-dillashaw/any-time-you-have-to-tell-work-where-you-re-at-and-what-you-re-doing/) [T.J. Dillashaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-dillashaw/) > [“Don’t tell ever "Only I can do that work", tell always "I can do that work also”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiranjit-paul/don-t-tell-ever-only-i-can-do-that-work-tell-always-i-can-do-that/) [Chiranjit Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiranjit-paul/) > [“Sometimes everything you know in the world turns out to be a lie. But at the end of the day the lie isn’t what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-estheim/sometimes-everything-you-know-in-the-world-turns-out-to-be-a-lie-but/) [Hope Estheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-estheim/) > [“She claimed that she was in the service of the workers, and yet, from her room in a house full of books and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/she-claimed-that-she-was-in-the-service-of-the-workers-and-yet-from/) [Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I've always tried to tell myself that the work itself is the thing, that win, lose, or draw, the work is really what counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-erving/i-ve-always-tried-to-tell-myself-that-the-work-itself-is-the-thing/) [Julius Erving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-erving/) > [“Human beings want to know where things came from, how they were made, and who made them. The stories you tell about the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/human-beings-want-to-know-where-things-came-from-how-they-were-made/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [Human beings have a physical need to tell themselves when at work: "Let's have done with it now," and it's having constantly to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/human-beings-have-a-physical-need-to-tell-themselves-when-at-work-let/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [I don't need an Emmy to tell me to go to work. I've been working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-don-t-need-an-emmy-to-tell-me-to-go-to-work-i-ve-been-working/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) ## 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 Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) [Robert Cory Molloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cory-molloy/) > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) [Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what can I do to make my work better?’” “No shit?” “No shit.” “What’d he say?” “He said, ‘I can’t tell you anything about your work. You must do it all by yourself.’” “Ha.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can-i-do-to-make-my-work-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can-i-do-to-make-my-work-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/charles-bukowski-73_asked_well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can_3159588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, I asked him. I said, ‘Master, what can I do to make my work better?’” “No shit?” “No shit.” “What’d he…” — 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": "“Well, I asked him. I said,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can-i-do-to-make-my-work-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-i-asked-him-i-said-master-what-can-i-do-to-make-my-work-better/#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 } } ] } ```