Any startling piece of work has a subversive element in it, a delicious element often. Subversion is only disagreeable when it manifests in political or social activity. In what we call art, it's one of the most desirable characteristics of a piece of work.

Leonard Cohen

There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. by Leonard Cohen

There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.

inspiring motivational life

Everybody knows the dice are loaded. by Leonard Cohen

Everybody knows the dice are loaded.

loaded dice knows

I greet you from the other side of sorrow and despair, with a love so vast and shattered it will reach you everywhere.

despair sorrow sides

We are so lightly here. It is in love that we are made. In love w... by Leonard Cohen

We are so lightly here. It is in love that we are made. In love we disappear.

We are so small between the stars, so large against the sky. by Leonard Cohen

We are so small between the stars, so large against the sky.

universe stars sky

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.

mad journey dark

To keep our hearts open is probably the most urgent responsibilit... by Leonard Cohen

To keep our hearts open is probably the most urgent responsibility you have as you get older.

urgent responsibility heart

I wish I could say everything in one word. I hate all the things that can happen between the beginning of a sentence and the end.

May you be surrounded by friends and family, and if this is not your lot, may the blessings find you in your solitude.

family-and-friends solitude blessing

Never make a decision when you need to pee. by Leonard Cohen

Never make a decision when you need to pee.

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.

optimistic rain reality

It's the notion that there is no perfection - that there is a broken world and we live with broken hearts and broken lives but still there is no alibi for anything. On the contrary, you have to stand up and say hallelujah under those circumstances.

broken heart life

In the broken places, the light shines through. by Leonard Cohen

In the broken places, the light shines through.

shining light broken

How can I begin anything new with all of yesterday in me? by Leonard Cohen

How can I begin anything new with all of yesterday in me?

Reality is one of the possibilities I cannot afford to ignore by Leonard Cohen

Reality is one of the possibilities I cannot afford to ignore

possibility life reality

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.

glasses feet relaxation

Please make me empty, if I'm empty then I can receive, if I can receive it means it comes from somewhere outside of me, if it comes from outside of me I'm not alone! I cannot bear this loneliness. Above all it is loneliness.

loneliness bears mean

It's been a long time since I've stood on a stage in London. Was about 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Ritalin, Focalin. I've also studied deeply in the philosophies and the religions, but cheerfulness kept breaking through.

crazy dream philosophy

When we are touched by a song, it is because the artist cannot hi... by Leonard Cohen

When we are touched by a song, it is because the artist cannot hide himself.

touched artist song

You who wish to conquer pain, you must learn what makes one kind. by Leonard Cohen

You who wish to conquer pain, you must learn what makes one kind.

sadness pain wish