It was a dance of masks and every mask was perfect because every mask was a real face and every face was areal mask, so there was no mask and there was no face for there was but one dance in which there was butane mask but one true face which was the same and which was a thing without a name which changed and changed into itself over and over.

— Leonard Cohen

I've forgotten most of what I've read and, frankly, it never seemed very important to me or to the world.

— Leonard Cohen

I walk through the old yellow sunlight to get to my kitchen table the poem about melting there with the book sin which I am listed among the dead and future Dylan's

— Leonard Cohen

I want history to jump on Canada's spine with sharp skates.

— 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.

— Leonard Cohen

Music is the emotional life of most people.

— Leonard Cohen

My animal howls My angel's upset But I'm not allowed trace of regret

— Leonard Cohen

My reputation as a ladies' man was a joke. It caused me to laugh bitterly through the 10,000 nights I spent alone.

— Leonard Cohen

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

— Leonard Cohen

Reality is one of the possibilities I cannot afford to ignore

— Leonard Cohen