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 bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom.
January 19, 2026 at 4:07 AM
The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom.
I looked round anxiously, peeped behind his screen; but it was very plain that he was gone.
January 19, 2026 at 3:07 AM
I looked round anxiously, peeped behind his screen; but it was very plain that he was gone.
"I would prefer not to."
January 19, 2026 at 2:16 AM
"I would prefer not to."
"We are going to examine them."
January 19, 2026 at 1:06 AM
"We are going to examine them."
Their fits relieved each other, like guards.
January 19, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Their fits relieved each other, like guards.
"Why, how now?"
January 18, 2026 at 11:06 PM
"Why, how now?"
said another turnkey, passing me.
January 18, 2026 at 10:06 PM
said another turnkey, passing me.
I now recalled all the quiet mysteries which I had noted in the man.
January 18, 2026 at 9:18 PM
I now recalled all the quiet mysteries which I had noted in the man.
"In a word, will you do anything at all, to give a coloring to your refusal to depart the premises?"
January 18, 2026 at 8:06 PM
"In a word, will you do anything at all, to give a coloring to your refusal to depart the premises?"
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!
January 18, 2026 at 7:06 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!
Yes: his decision was irreversible.
January 18, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Yes: his decision was irreversible.
Despairing of all further efforts, I was precipitately leaving him, when a final thought occurred to me—one which had not been wholly unindulged before.
January 18, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Despairing of all further efforts, I was precipitately leaving him, when a final thought occurred to me—one which had not been wholly unindulged before.
he a vagrant, a wanderer, who refuses to budge?
January 18, 2026 at 4:05 PM
he a vagrant, a wanderer, who refuses to budge?
What was to be done?
January 18, 2026 at 3:05 PM
What was to be done?
"Would I not be justified in immediately dismissing Bartleby?"
January 18, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"Would I not be justified in immediately dismissing Bartleby?"
"I would prefer not to take a clerkship," he rejoined, as if to settle that little item at once.
January 18, 2026 at 1:05 PM
"I would prefer not to take a clerkship," he rejoined, as if to settle that little item at once.
I passed on, very thankful that the uproar of the street screened my momentary absent-mindedness.
January 18, 2026 at 12:06 PM
I passed on, very thankful that the uproar of the street screened my momentary absent-mindedness.
"I threw open the folding-doors near by, and, turning upon Turkey and Nippers, exclaimed: "Bartleby a second time says, he won’t examine his papers.
January 18, 2026 at 11:06 AM
"I threw open the folding-doors near by, and, turning upon Turkey and Nippers, exclaimed: "Bartleby a second time says, he won’t examine his papers.
"How’s this?"
January 18, 2026 at 10:06 AM
"How’s this?"
said the grub-man, addressing me with a stare of astonishment.
January 18, 2026 at 9:06 AM
said the grub-man, addressing me with a stare of astonishment.
But no; I verily believe that buttoning himself up in so downy and blanket-like a coat had a pernicious effect upon him—upon the same principle that too much oats are bad for horses.
January 18, 2026 at 8:06 AM
But no; I verily believe that buttoning himself up in so downy and blanket-like a coat had a pernicious effect upon him—upon the same principle that too much oats are bad for horses.
Such a proceeding would in a singular degree have the appearance of a home-thrust.
January 18, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Such a proceeding would in a singular degree have the appearance of a home-thrust.
"But, sir, as I was saying, if he would but prefer—" "Turkey," interrupted I, "you will please withdraw."
January 18, 2026 at 6:06 AM
"But, sir, as I was saying, if he would but prefer—" "Turkey," interrupted I, "you will please withdraw."
Though of a very ingenious mechanical turn, Nippers could never get this table to suit him.
January 18, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Though of a very ingenious mechanical turn, Nippers could never get this table to suit him.
Nay—if that were possible—he became still more of a fixture than before.
January 18, 2026 at 4:07 AM
Nay—if that were possible—he became still more of a fixture than before.