3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen 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.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen 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.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen We used to play music for fun. Much more than now. Now nobody picks up a guitar unless they’re paid for it.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen In dreams the truth is learned that all good works are done in the absence of a caress.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen 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.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen 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.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen 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.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.
3 December 2020 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.
3 December 2020 Leonard Cohen I never really liked poetry readings I liked to read poetry by myself, but I liked singing, chanting my lyrics to this jazz group.
