Genius of the Crowd
by Charles Bukowski
(as transcribed from MP3)

There is enough
treachery
hatred
violence
absurdity
in the average human being
to supply any given army
on any given day

And the best at murder
are those who preach against it
And the best at hate
are those who preach love
And, finally, the best at war
are those who preach peace

Those who preach God need God
Those who preach peace do not have peace
Those who preach love do not have love

Beware the preachers
Beware the knowers
Beware those who are always reading books

Beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
Beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
Beware those quick to censure
they are afraid of what they do not know
Beware those who seek constant crowds
they are nothing alone

Beware the average man
and the average woman
Beware their love
Their love, average, seeks average

But there is genius in their hatred
There is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody

Not wanting solitude
Not understanding solitude
They will attempt to destroy anything that differs from their concepts

Not being able the create art
they will not understand art
They will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world

Not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect