Charles Bukowski’s Philosophy of 'Don't Try'
Exploring the meaning behind the poet's enigmatic and minimalist epitaph.
1The Cryptic Epitaph
Charles Bukowski, buried in a Los Angeles cemetery in 1994, left behind a simple gravestone featuring a boxer symbol and the phrase 'Don't Try.' This minimalist epitaph serves as a condensed summary of his approach to both art and life, sparking decades of debate regarding his true intentions and underlying creative philosophy.
2Waiting for Inspiration
In a 1963 letter to John William Corrington, Bukowski explained his creative process by comparing it to waiting for a bug on a wall. He argued against forcing outcomes, such as seeking immortality or material success, suggesting instead that one must patiently wait for the right moment to act or create.
3Rejecting Forced Effort
By 1990, Bukowski emphasized to William Packard that people often work too hard and overthink their creative output. He dismissed formal instruction, famously stating that classes are for asses, and insisted that writing poetry should be as natural and effortless as basic human functions like drinking a bottle of beer.
4Clarifying the Misconception
Many readers mistakenly interpret 'Don't Try' as an endorsement of laziness or slacker culture. However, Linda Bukowski clarified in a 2005 interview with Mike Watt that the phrase is not about doing nothing. Instead, it serves as a rejection of the performative struggle often associated with the act of trying.
5The Action Paradox
Linda Bukowski explained that the philosophy centers on the distinction between trying and doing. If an individual spends their limited time merely trying to accomplish something, they are not actually performing the task. The epitaph encourages immediate, natural action rather than the exhausting, self-conscious labor of attempting to force a result.
6Origin of the Phrase
The phrase originated when Bukowski was asked to provide a personal philosophy for the 'Who's Who In America' publication. While other contributors submitted lengthy dissertations about their lives and work, Bukowski chose to be brief, providing only those two words to encapsulate his entire worldview in a single, punchy statement.
7Natural Creative Flow
Bukowski’s perspective suggests that talent should appear spontaneously, almost like a Jedi-style manifestation of skill. By removing the pressure of external expectations and the need for constant direction, he believed that one could allow their inherent creative abilities to emerge from the womb of the mind without unnecessary, artificial struggle.
8A Legacy of Patience
Ultimately, Bukowski’s philosophy advocates for a life lived with patience and authentic engagement. By avoiding the trap of over-exertion, he believed one could maintain creative integrity. His legacy remains a reminder that the most profound expressions often come from a place of natural ease rather than forced, anxious, or calculated effort.
Original article: Open Culture — Charles Bukowski’s Philosophy of 'Don't Try'