“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” — Leonard Cohen Born on September 21, 1934, This is absolutely our most favorite ever quote from Leonard Cohen! Leonard is a legendary Canadian poet, singer, novelist, and songwriter. Some of his works surround the topics of relationships, death, religion, sex, depression, and politics. Leonard was also inducted into both the Canadian And Rock & Roll Hall of Fames.
His long-time passion for the arts And music drove Cohen to seek out various forms in a short span of time. Which thus, gave him the cause to pursuit writing, poetry, And musical arts. This resulted in Leonard’s many amazing literary pieces And his unforgettable hit “Hallelujah” (see the touching video below).
Throughout the years his words of wisdom have inspired others to pursue their dreams And see life through rose-colored glasses. If you need to find a glimmer of hope in our unpredictable world, our collection of Leonard Cohen Quotes will help get you through the week!
Leonard Cohen Quotes
1. “We are so lightly here. It is in love that we are made. In love, we disappear.” — Leonard Cohen
2. “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen
3. “Growing old becomes clear to you at a certain point. I think it’s after the age of 70 you realize – you begin to actually be convinced – you’re growing older.” — Leonard Cohen
4. “Let judges secretly despair of justice: their verdicts will be more acute. Let generals secretly despair of triumph; killing will be defamed. Let priests secretly despair of faith: their compassion will be true.” — Leonard Cohen
5. “The last refuge of the insomniac is a sense of superiority to the sleeping world.” — Leonard Cohen
6. “Love is the only engine of survival.” — Leonard Cohen
7. “Believe nothing of me except that I felt your beauty more closely than my own.” — Leonard Cohen
8. “When you stop thinking about yourself all the time, a certain sense of repose overtakes you.” — Leonard Cohen
9. “Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” — Leonard Cohen
10. “You live your life as if it’s real… a thousand kisses deep.” — Leonard Cohen
11. “We are not mad. We are human. We want to love, And someone must forgive us for the paths we take to love, for the paths are many And dark, And we are ardent And cruel in our journey.” — Leonard Cohen
12. “Children show scars like medals. Lovers use them as secrets to reveal. A scar is what happens when the word is made flesh.” — Leonard Cohen
13. “Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen
14. “Dream after dream, we all lie in each other’s arms.” — Leonard Cohen
15. “Growing old becomes clear to you at a certain point. I think it’s after the age of 70 you realize – you begin to actually be convinced – you’re growing older.” — Leonard Cohen
16. “Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in Lift me like an olive branch And be my homeward dove Dance me to the end of love.” — Leonard Cohen
17. “I don’t consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin.” — Leonard Cohen
18. “Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free!!” — Leonard Cohen
19. “How can I begin anything new with all of yesterday in me?” — Leonard Cohen
20. “First of all, nothing will happen And a little later nothing will happen again.” — Leonard Cohen
21. “Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You look like you could go on forever. Now come into my arms. You are the image of my beauty.” — Leonard Cohen
22. “As our eyes grow accustomed to sight they armor themselves against wonder.” — Leonard Cohen
23. “And I’ll dance with you in Vienna, I’ll be wearing a river’s disguise. The hyacinth wild on my shoulder my mouth on the dew of your thighs. And I’ll bury my soul in a scrapbook, with the photographs there And the moss. And I’ll yield to the flood of your beauty, my cheap violin, And my cross.” — Leonard Cohen
24. “I almost went to bed without remembering the four white violets I put in the button-hole of your green sweater And how I kissed you then And you kissed me shy as though I’d never been your lover.” — Leonard Cohen
25. “It’s hard to hold the hand of anyone who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.” — Leonard Cohen
26. “I fought against the bottle, but I had to do it drunk. Took my diamond to the pawnshop, but that doesn’t make it junk.” — Leonard Cohen
27. “I don’t remember lighting this cigarette and I don’t remember if I’m here alone or waiting for someone.” — Leonard Cohen
28. “I’ve forgotten most of what I’ve read and, frankly, it never seemed very important to me or to the world.” — Leonard Cohen
29. “Every soul is like a minnow. Every mind is like a shark.” — Leonard Cohen
30. “Ordinary eternal machinery, like the grinding of the stars” — Leonard Cohen
31. “Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You look like you could go on forever. Now come into my arms. You are the image of my beauty .” — Leonard Cohen
32. “And may my bronze name/touch always her thousand fingers / grow brighter with her weeping / until I am fixed like a galaxy / And memorized / in her secret And fragile skies.” — Leonard Cohen
33. “As our eyes grow accustomed to the sight, they armor themselves against wonder.” — Leonard Cohen
34. “I don’t really understand that process called reincarnation but if there is such a thing I’d like to come back as my daughter’s dog.” — Leonard Cohen
35. “In My Secret Life” “I saw you this morning, you were moving so fast. Can’t seem to loosen my grip On the past. And I miss you so much, there’s no one in sight. And we’re still making love In my secret life. I smile when I am angry, I cheat and I lie, I do what I have to do to get by, In my secret life.” — Leonard Cohen
36. “Blessed be the covenant of love between what is hidden And what is revealed.” — Leonard Cohen
37. “This is the most challenging activity that humans get into, which is love. You know, where we have the sense that we can’t live without love. That life has very little meaning without love.” — Leonard Cohen
38. “first of all nothing will happen And a little later nothing will happen again” — Leonard Cohen
39. “My page was too white My ink was too thin The day wouldn’t write What the night penciled in.” — Leonard Cohen
40. “I am an old scholar, better-looking now than when I was young. That’s what sitting on your ass does to your face.” — Leonard Cohen
41. “When things get really bad, just raise your glass And stamp your feet And do a little jig. That’s about all you can do.” — Leonard Cohen
42. “Yeah I missed you since the place got wrecked By the winds of change And the weeds of sex look like freedom but it feels like death it’s something in between, I guess it’s closing time.” — Leonard Cohen
43. “The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show.” — Leonard Cohen
44. “If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off And condemn they will bind you with love that is graceful And green as a stem.” — Leonard Cohen
45. “Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in Lift me like an olive branch And be my homeward dove Dance me to the end of love ” — Leonard Cohen
46. “I found that things became a lot easier when I no longer expected to win. You abandon your masterpiece And sink into the real masterpiece.” — Leonard Cohen
47. “Don’t write about ideas … write about convictions of the heart.” — Leonard Cohen
48. “As the mist leaves no scar On the dark green hill So my body leaves no scar On you And never will” — Leonard Cohen
49. “Who could have foretold the heart grows old from touching others” — Leonard Cohen
50. “Stunned And still not suffering. Swollen with care And anxiety And still not suffering. Useless, old And full of grief, but still not suffering.” — Leonard Cohen
See also: Melanie Martinez Quotes
Video: Leonard Cohen Sings Hallelujah
This is one of his all time biggest hits. Always moves and inspires us every time we watch this.
Related: Tom Waits Quotes
Summary
Those are the 50 most memorable Leonard Cohen quotes to inspire your daily life. As a lover of poetry, my personal favorite piece by Mr. Cohen is “I think the term poet is a very exalted term and should be applied to a man at the end of his work.
Leonard Cohen has left behind a massive collection of songs and writings that have inspired millions.
Image Credit: “Leonard Cohen, Edinburgh Castle” by jonl1973 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
I’m Alice Judy and AnQuotes is a fun hobby for me. We know that everyone loves a great quote and our mission here is simple – to be the best and most interesting quote site in the world! If you have quotes you would like us to cover, please contact us.