Leonard Cohen

And most people have a woman in their heart, most men have a woman in their heart and most women have a man in their heart.

Women stand for the objective world for a man. They stand for the thing that you're not and that's what you always reach for in a song.

Success is survival.

I think the term poet is a very exalted term and should be applied to a man at the end of his work. When he looks back over the body of his work and he's written poetry then let the verdict be that he's a poet.

I always thought that poetry is the verdict that others give to a certain kind of writing. So to call yourself a poet is a kind of dangerous description. It's for others it's for others to use.

I never really liked poetry readings I liked to read poetry by myself, but I liked singing, chanting my lyrics to this jazz group.

Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.

We used to play music for fun. Much more than now. Now nobody picks up a guitar unless they're paid for it.

Music is the emotional life of most people.

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.

To every people the land is given on condition. Perceived or not, there is a Covenant, beyond the constitution, beyond sovereign guarantee, beyond the nation's sweetest dreams of itself.

In dreams the truth is learned that all good works are done in the absence of a caress.