If you are going to try, go all the way.
Otherwise don’t even start.
This could mean losing girlfriends, wives,
relatives, jobs and maybe your mind.
It could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
It could mean freezing on the park bench.
It could mean jail.
It could mean derision.
It could mean mockery, isolation.
Isolation is the gift.
All the others are a test of your endurance,
of how much you really want to do it.
And you’ll do it.
Despite rejection and worst odds
and it will be better than anything else you can imagine.
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
There is no other feeling like that.
You will be alone with the gods.
And the nights will flame with fire.
You will ride life straight to perfect laughter,
it’s the only good fight there is.

Charles Bukowski, Factotum