Art

 "I lived in France. I met Picasso."
 "Did you really?"
 "Shit, I did. He's O.K."
 "How'd you met him?"
 "I knocked on his door."
 "Was he pissed?"
 "No. No, he wasn't pissed."
 "Some people don't like him."
 "Some people don't like anybody who is famous."
 "And some people don't like anybody who isn't."
 "People don't count. I wouldn't piss on a fly for them."
 "What'd Picasso say?"
 "Well, I asked him. I said, 'Master, what can I do to make my work better?' "
 "No shit?"
 "No shit."
 "What'd he say?"
 "He said, 'I can't tell you anything about your work. You must do it all by yourself..' "
 "Ha."
 "Yes."
 "Pretty good."
 "Yes. Got a match?"
 I gave him some. His cigar had gone out.
 "My brother is rich," said Maurice. "He has disowned me. He doesn't like my drinking. He doesn't like my painting."
 "But your brother never met Picasso."
 Maurice stood up and smiled.
 "No, he never met Picasso."

 - Factotum; Charles Bukowski

Magic. Some women were magic.

 "You married, Manny?"
 "No way."
 "Women?"
 "Sometimes. But it never lasts."
 "What's the problem?"
 "A woman is a full-time job. You have to choose your profession."
 "I suppose there is an emotional drain."
 "Physical too. They want to fuck night and day."
 "Get one you like to fuck."
 "Yes, but if you drink or gamble they think it's a putdown of their love."
 "Get one who likes to drink, gamble and fuck."
 "Who wants a woman like that?"
 (...)
 "Manny, what are you doing in auto parts?"
 "Resting. My ambition is handicapped by laziness."

 - Factotum; Charles Bukowski