The term clinical depression finds its way into too many conversations these days. One has a sense that a catastrophe has occurred in the psychic landscape.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that the term "clinical depression" is being used too often in everyday conversations. The author feels that there is a sense of a major crisis or disaster happening in people's minds and emotions, even though the situation may not be as serious as the language used to describe it.

About Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen was a renowned Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored themes of faith, mortality, isolation, love, and social and political conflict. He was inducted into various music halls of fame and received prestigious awards for his contributions to literature and music.

More about the author

More quotes from Leonard Cohen

Prayer is translation. A man translates himself into a child asking for all there is in a language he has barely mastered.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

A woman watches her body uneasily, as though it were an unreliable ally in the battle for love.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

Children show scars like medals. Lovers use them as secrets to reveal. A scar is what happens when the word is made flesh.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

I am an old scholar, better-looking now than when I was young. That’s what sitting on your ass does to your face.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

The last refuge of the insomniac is a sense of superiority to the sleeping world.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

The term clinical depression finds its way into too many conversations these days. One has a sense that a catastrophe has occurred in the psychic landscape.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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.

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)

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

Leonard Cohen

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter (1934-2016)