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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker acknowledges feeling oppressed by beauty standards but finds solace in music. It affirms value despite perceived ugliness.
In plain terms
We might feel ugly compared to beauty standards but we have music to save us.
What can you take from it?
Music can validate you when you feel excluded by beauty norms.

Where it applies

  • body image struggles
  • artistic expression
  • marginalization

Putting it to work

  • art therapy
  • writing
  • self-affirmation

Questions to consider

  • How does art help you when you feel inadequate?
  • What does music give you when you feel ugly?

Another view

Relying on art may not solve the root issue of societal beauty standards.

More from Leonard Cohen

  1. Transparent, weightless, luminous/ Uncovering the two of us/ On that fundamental ground/ Where love's unwilled, unleashed, unbound/ And half the perfect world …

    Permalink to quote #58
  2. We taught him how to dress, and he taught us how to live, forever.

    Permalink to quote #60
  3. And sometimes when the night is slow/ The wretched and the meek/ We gather up our hearts and go/ A Thousand Kisses Deep.

    Permalink to quote #57

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