Skip to content

Broken Quote by Leonard Cohen

“You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah” quote by Leonard Cohen
Download Open image
“You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah”

Leonard Cohen

About This Quote

Source Song: “Hallelujah” (originally by Leonard Cohen, 1984)

The lyrics juxtapose sacred and profane, suggesting that every word carries a divine spark regardless of its source.

In simple terms: Every word can be holy, even broken ones.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaning in all expressions.

Themes

faith language duality

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

  • songwriting
  • poetry
  • spiritual reflection

Key Concepts

sacredness human experience

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you find sacredness in everyday speech?
  • How does context change a word’s impact?
A Different Perspective

The line may romanticize suffering as inherently meaningful.

4.5 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by Leonard Cohen

Explore all 543 Leonard Cohen quotes

More Broken quotes

Browse all 4,785 Broken quotes