Charles Bukowski Quotes

People drain me, even the closest of friends, and I find loneliness to be the best state in the union to live in.

After a full morning working on 'TBC,' I don't feel like talking to any guys for a few hours.

I need some isolation, it's necessary to me, that's just who I am. I need to be left alone.

After an hour or two of being socially on, we introverts need to turn off and recharge ... This isn't antisocial. It isn't a sign of depression.

We had decided to totally disappear from the media, to not do any interviews and photo shoots. Tom and I just needed time to ourselves.

Taking time for yourself is crucial when you're surrounded by people all day.

I love throwing parties and being sociable and dancing. But I also have this other homebody side and can become quite isolated and anxious.

There's a time in everybody's life they really don't want to talk to people: they want to get away from talking or being on the phone and stuff.

I get really manic on set, and then to just get myself to a place where I'm alone in my apartment again, it's like this recalibrating thing that happens.

I think it's a loss of energy to be worrying about other people's issues.

Wrong solitude vinegars the soul, right solitude oils it.

Sometimes it's like you're a big pie settin' on the table, and everybody runs up and gets their piece of you. When it's over' the plate's empty.

People think I'm nuts because I can sit in a room and be happy by myself.

Sometimes, too often, I don't want to muster the energy. Stress and anxiety seem easier.

I still care about people but it would be so much easier not to care. I don't want to get too close; I don't like to touch things.

In fact I try to spend at least one, if not two days without ever leaving my room. Because if I didn't, when would I recharge my batteries?

Normally seven minutes of another person's company was enough to give her a headache so she set things up to live as a recluse. She was perfectly content as long as people left her in peace. Unfortunately society was not very smart or understanding.

Solitude matters. And for some people it's the air they breathe.

As a recluse I couldn't bear traffic. It had nothing to do with jealousy, I simply disliked people, crowds, anywhere, except at my readings. People diminished me, they sucked me dry.

This person realizes that staying home means blowing off everyone this person has ever known. But the desire to stay in is very strong. This person wants to run a bath and then read in bed.

That's something I have to work on: to separate what really matters, to conserve energy by not worrying about what other people think. When I walk through that door, it's about home. If I didn't do that, I'd become consumed by one thing only and damage the people who love me. And it would damage the work.

People always get tired of one another. I grow tired of myself whenever I am left alone for ten minutes, and I am certain that I am fonder of myself than anyone can be of another person.

Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give and nobody will care for you.

I don't beef with people, because I don't be around people. Nobody can't say nothing about me, because ain't nobody know nothing about me.

Women, in order to recharge their batteries, gather in groups. They can recharge their batteries with their sisters. I tend to recharge my batteries in solitude, therefore the motorcycle trips. I need to be alone. As a matter of fact, I have to be careful. I could turn into a hermit.