Every now and then, there is a writer who pops out on the scene that holds up a mirror to society, showing us all the wrinkles and blemishes we’d rather not see. Charles Bukowski was one of those writers. He had an uncanny ability to dig into the gritty truths of human nature without pulling any punches. He was a ‘straight-shooter’ whose words were never sugar-coated.
Bukowski was never one to shy away from life’s absurdities or the less glamorous sides of society. He’d dive headfirst into topics others might avoid, like power and all the folks chasing after it like moths to a flame. He had this sharp eye for spotting the difference between people who hunger for power and those who keep their distance.
In his eyes, the smartest people aren’t the ones playing the power game. They rather sidestep it altogether. Not because they lack the wisdom to play, but because they realise how empty and toxic it can get. According to him, those constantly clawing for control are really just looking to fill some inner void. It’s like they’ve got this itch they can’t scratch, so they try to soothe it by bossing other people around.
Politicians were often in his crosshairs. He saw them as characters, mostly running on ego rather than any noble intentions. For him, the hustle for influence was usually mismatched with the ability to handle it responsibly. He figured the more someone wanted power, the less suited they were to having it, which is a pretty cynical take—but also kind of real if you think about it.
He wanted everyone to have a deeper look at the motivations behind those in charge and to recognise that maybe the truly intelligent choice is to stay out of the power scramble. For him, power was an alluring yet dangerous game, corrupting even those with the best intentions.
So what’s Bukowski trying to say to us? Well, maybe it’s a reminder to be cautious about what leading really means. Perhaps he’s thoughts are nudging us to find the real value in the quiet wisdom of self-reflection rather than getting lost in the noisy pursuit of ambition.
