Barfly Quotes

Henry Chinaski And as my hands drop the last desperate pen, in some cheap room, they will find me there and never know my name, my meaning, nor the treasure of my escape.

Wanda I can't stand people, I hate them.

Henry Oh yeah?

Wanda Do you hate them?

Henry No, but I seem to feel better when they're not around.

Henry Chinaski I remember ordering a draught, barkeep. What, are you out of brew, or has that lobotomy finally taken hold?

Henry Chinaski It's hatred. It's the only thing that lasts.

Henry Chinaski Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.

Henry Chinaski Nothing but the dripping sink. Empty bottle. Euphoria. Youth fenced in, stabbed and shaved. Taut words propped up to die

Eddie All you gotta do is beg for a little mercy.

Henry Quittin to you would be like swallowin piss for eternity.

Henry Why did it have to be Eddie? He symbolizes everything that disgusts me. Obviousness. Unoriginal macho energy. Ladies man...

Wanda You're right. He's not much.

Eddie I'd hate to be you if I were me.

Tully You can really write. Why do you live like a bum?

Henry I am a bum. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to write about the sufferings of the upper classes?

Tully This may be news to you but they suffer too.

Henry Hey baby, nobody suffers like the poor.

Henry Chinaski So you hired a dick to find an asshole?

Henry That's it.

Wanda That's what?

Henry I'm broke. Can't buy another drink.

Wanda You mean you don't have any money?

Henry No money, no job, no rent. Hey, I'm back to normal.

Tully You know, in the guest house, you could write in peace.

Henry Hey, Tully baby, nobody who could write worth a damn could ever write in peace...Jesus.

Tully Why did you send your stuff to us?

Henry Well, I liked the title of the mag. It boggled my scrotum.

Tully Why don't you stop drinking? Anybody can be a drunk.

Henry Anybody can be a non-drunk. It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance. Endurance is more important than truth.

Henry Some guys really know how to get the women.

Jim Now, you don't know how?

Henry Hey, I can get one for ten minutes. That's my limit.

Henry Chinaski Your mom's cunt smells like carpet cleaner.

Henry This is a world where everybody's gotta do something. Y'know, somebody laid down this rule that everybody's gotta do something, they gotta be something. You know, a dentist, a glider pilot, a narc, a janitor, a preacher, all that. Sometimes I just get tired of thinking of all the things that I don't wanna do. All the things that I don't wanna be. Places I don't wanna go, like India, like getting my teeth cleaned. Save the whale, all that, I don't understand that.

Jim You're not supposed to think about it. I think the whole trick is, not to think about it.