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Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen Quotes

Singer-songwriter

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Famous Leonard Cohen Quotes

“Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, "The voices in my head, they don't care what I do, they just want to argue the matter through and through." It is a common mistake, to think you're going to go into some kind of spiritual practice and you're going to be relieved of the human burdens, from human crosses like thought, jealousy, despair - in fact, if anything, these feelings are amplified.”

IfsThinkingWantYearsHumansKindMatterFactsFeelingsCareSpiritualVoiceCommonMistakePracticeDespairYears AgoCrossesBurdenDon't CareArguingRelievedSpiritual PracticeVoices In My Head
Author:Leonard Cohen
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“We've got to temper anything we say with that. On the other hand, you've got to be serious about what you do. And you've got to understand the price you pay for frivolity or just for greed - it's a very high price, especially if you're involved in this sacred material, which is about the human heart and human desire and human tragedy.”

IfsHumansHeartHandsDesirePaySeriousMaterialsInvolvedTragedySacredGreedTemperHuman HeartHigh PricesFrivolity
Author:Leonard Cohen
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“I see people allowing their lives to diminish, to become shallow, so they can't enjoy the deep wells of experience. Maybe it's always been this way, when the heart tends to shut down. If only the heart shut down and there were no repercussions, it would be O.K., but when the heart shuts down, the whole system goes into a kind of despair that is intolerable.”

PeopleIfsWayWellsHeartKindWholeWould BeEnjoyDespairDown AndAllowingShallowDiminishRepercussions
Author:Leonard Cohen
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“Except for a couple of hours in the morning which I passed in the company of a sage I stayed in bed without food only a few mouthfuls of water “you are a fine looking old man” I said to myself in the mirror “and what is more you have the correct attitude You don’t care if it ends or if it goes on And as for the women and the music there will be plenty of that in Paradise” Then I went to the Mosque of Memory to express my gratitude”

IfsMenSaidEndsCareWaterHoursMemoriesAttitudeCompanyMorningFineGoes OnCoupleGratitudeBedMirrorsDon't CarePlentyParadiseOld ManSageMosques
Book:Book of Longing
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“What is most original in a man's nature is often that which is most desperate. Thus new systems are forced on the world by men who simply cannot bear the pain of living with what is. Creators care nothing for their systems except that they be unique. If Hitler had been born in Nazi Germany he wouldn't have been content to enjoy the atmosphere.”

IfsMenWorldHas BeensCarePainEnjoyBornBearsUniqueOriginalsCreatorAtmosphereGermanyDesperateNaziDesperationNazi Germany
Book:Beautiful Losers
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