Bartleby, the Bot
@bartlebythebot.bsky.social
A bot that posts a random line from Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener". Created by @adamvinueza.me.
The next morning came.
February 18, 2026 at 12:08 PM
The next morning came.
The beauty of my procedure seemed to consist in its perfect quietness.
February 18, 2026 at 11:07 AM
The beauty of my procedure seemed to consist in its perfect quietness.
As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents.
February 18, 2026 at 10:06 AM
As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents.
So, I made up my mind to let him stay, resolving, nevertheless, to see to it that, during the afternoon, he had to do with my less important papers.
February 18, 2026 at 8:07 AM
So, I made up my mind to let him stay, resolving, nevertheless, to see to it that, during the afternoon, he had to do with my less important papers.
"Am I not right?"
February 18, 2026 at 6:06 AM
"Am I not right?"
"And what is the reason?"
February 18, 2026 at 5:07 AM
"And what is the reason?"
"All beer," cried Turkey; "gentleness is effects of beer—Nippers and I dined together to-day."
February 18, 2026 at 4:09 AM
"All beer," cried Turkey; "gentleness is effects of beer—Nippers and I dined together to-day."
"With submission, sir," said he, "yesterday I was thinking about Bartleby here, and I think that if he would but prefer to take a quart of good ale every day, it would do much towards mending him, and enabling him to assist in examining his papers."
February 18, 2026 at 3:06 AM
"With submission, sir," said he, "yesterday I was thinking about Bartleby here, and I think that if he would but prefer to take a quart of good ale every day, it would do much towards mending him, and enabling him to assist in examining his papers."
"Are you ready to go on and write now?"
February 18, 2026 at 2:06 AM
"Are you ready to go on and write now?"
Somehow, of late, I had got into the way of involuntarily using this word "prefer" upon all sorts of not exactly suitable occasions.
February 18, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Somehow, of late, I had got into the way of involuntarily using this word "prefer" upon all sorts of not exactly suitable occasions.
Without hindrance I inserted my key, opened it, and entered.
February 18, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Without hindrance I inserted my key, opened it, and entered.
If he would but have named a single relative or friend, I would instantly have written, and urged their taking the poor fellow away to some convenient retreat.
February 17, 2026 at 11:06 PM
If he would but have named a single relative or friend, I would instantly have written, and urged their taking the poor fellow away to some convenient retreat.
And here Bartleby makes his home; sole spectator, of a solitude which he has seen all populous—a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage!
February 17, 2026 at 10:06 PM
And here Bartleby makes his home; sole spectator, of a solitude which he has seen all populous—a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage!
"I think I should kick him out of the office."
February 17, 2026 at 9:06 PM
"I think I should kick him out of the office."
He wore his pantaloons very loose and baggy in summer.
February 17, 2026 at 8:07 PM
He wore his pantaloons very loose and baggy in summer.
Or, if he wanted anything, it was to be rid of a scrivener’s table altogether.
February 17, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Or, if he wanted anything, it was to be rid of a scrivener’s table altogether.
"That would improve your health."
February 17, 2026 at 6:06 PM
"That would improve your health."
"Think of it?"
February 17, 2026 at 5:09 PM
"Think of it?"
Had there been the least uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner; in other words, had there been any thing ordinarily human about him, doubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises.
February 17, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Had there been the least uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner; in other words, had there been any thing ordinarily human about him, doubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises.
"If he does, let him live on the prison fare, that’s all."
February 17, 2026 at 3:09 PM
"If he does, let him live on the prison fare, that’s all."
I resolved to assign Bartleby a corner by the folding-doors, but on my side of them, so as to have this quiet man within easy call, in case any trifling thing was to be done.
February 17, 2026 at 2:07 PM
I resolved to assign Bartleby a corner by the folding-doors, but on my side of them, so as to have this quiet man within easy call, in case any trifling thing was to be done.
And here Bartleby makes his home; sole spectator, of a solitude which he has seen all populous—a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage!
February 17, 2026 at 1:06 PM
And here Bartleby makes his home; sole spectator, of a solitude which he has seen all populous—a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage!
Poor fellow!
February 17, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Poor fellow!