---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All men will be sailors then Until the…"
description: "\"All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them\" — Leonard Cohen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg"
---

#  All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them

![“All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg)

> “All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them”

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life's hardships are like a sea that must free us before we can truly become who we are.

**In simple terms:** Hardships must be faced before true freedom.

Key Takeaway

Embrace challenges as catalysts for growth.

Themes

adversity freedom identity

Mood

reflective determined

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- career setbacks
- health struggles
- relationship conflicts

Key Concepts

existentialism resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- What sea must you cross to become yourself?
- How do hardships shape your identity?

A Different Perspective

Freedom may come after prolonged struggle, not instantly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailor/) [Sailors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailors/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/)

## Related quotes

> [Men who neglect Christ, and try to win heaven through moralities, are like sailors at sea in a storm, who pull, some at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/men-who-neglect-christ-and-try-to-win-heaven-through-moralities-are/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [It may seem strange that of all men sailors should be tinkering at their last wills and testaments, but there are no people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/it-may-seem-strange-that-of-all-men-sailors-should-be-tinkering-at/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [The wind of God's grace is incessantly blowing. Lazy sailors on the sea of life do not take advantage of it. But the active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-wind-of-god-s-grace-is-incessantly-blowing-lazy-sailors-on-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [It is of great importance that the laws by which the contracts of so numerous and so useful a body of men as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-is-of-great-importance-that-the-laws-by-which-the-contracts-of-so/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [In all lands, sailors form a race apart. They profess a congenital contempt for landlubbers. As for the tradesman, he understands nothing of sailors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-all-lands-sailors-form-a-race-apart-they-profess-a-congenital/)

[Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/)

> [Every Naval vessel has a contingent of Marines aboard. After all, the Sailors have to have someone to dance with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/every-naval-vessel-has-a-contingent-of-marines-aboard-after-all-the/)

[Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/)

> [Young sailors once stood under a square sail, gazing wonderingly across the water to where a strange shore rose about the sea - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helge-ingstad/young-sailors-once-stood-under-a-square-sail-gazing-wonderingly/)

Helge Ingstad

> [On 9/11, 2001, the Navy stood at 316 ships. By 2008, after one of the great military buildups in American history, we were at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mabus/on-9-11-2001-the-navy-stood-at-316-ships-by-2008-after-one-of-the/)

[Ray Mabus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mabus/)

> [Ships are but boards, sailors but men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ships-are-but-boards-sailors-but-men/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Steam seems to have killed all gratitude in the hearts of sailors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/steam-seems-to-have-killed-all-gratitude-in-the-hearts-of-sailors/)

[Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/)

> [I'm fond of anything that comes from the sea, and that includes sailors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-flanner/i-m-fond-of-anything-that-comes-from-the-sea-and-that-includes-sailors/)

[Janet Flanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-flanner/)

> [If our long-term survival is at stake, we have a basic responsibility to our species to venture to other worlds. Sailors on a becalmed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-our-long-term-survival-is-at-stake-we-have-a-basic-responsibility/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [I think there's always been a myth that sailors brought in records in their knapsacks as if you could ... in the local shops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-taylor/i-think-there-s-always-been-a-myth-that-sailors-brought-in-records-in/)

[Derek Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-taylor/)

> [Sailors on a becalmed sea, we sense the stirring of a breeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/sailors-on-a-becalmed-sea-we-sense-the-stirring-of-a-breeze/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [Smooth seas don't produce skillful sailors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/smooth-seas-don-t-produce-skillful-sailors/)

[Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/)

## More by Leonard Cohen

> [The blizzard of the world has crossed the threshold and it's overturned the order of the soul...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-blizzard-of-the-world-has-crossed-the-threshold-and-it-s/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [“You don't know me from the wind you never will, you never did I'm the little jew who wrote the Bible. I've seen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/you-don-t-know-me-from-the-wind-you-never-will-you-never-did-i-m-the/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [“This is it I’m not coming after you I’m going to lie down for half an hour This is it I’m not going down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/this-is-it-i-m-not-coming-after-you-i-m-going-to-lie-down-for-half-an/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [My sense of proprietorship has been so weak that actually I didn't pay attention and I lost the copyrights on a lot of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-sense-of-proprietorship-has-been-so-weak-that-actually-i-didn-t/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can... reconcile and embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/this-world-is-full-of-conflicts-and-full-of-things-that-cannot-be/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [ I would say the hummingbird really deserves the royalties on \[some of my songs\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-would-say-the-hummingbird-really-deserves-the-royalties-on-some-of/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [One is given to self-dramatization from time to time. I intend to live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/one-is-given-to-self-dramatization-from-time-to-time-i-intend-to-live/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [The basic function of popular music is to create an environment for courting, lovemaking, and doing the dishes. It's useful because it addresses the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-basic-function-of-popular-music-is-to-create-an-environment-for/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [“Blessed are you, embrace of the falling, foundation of the light, master of the human accident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/blessed-are-you-embrace-of-the-falling-foundation-of-the-light-master/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [I continually blacken pages and scribble away, so I always have a number of songs that are half-finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-continually-blacken-pages-and-scribble-away-so-i-always-have-a/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [I have nothing against the Queen of England. Even in my heart I never resented her for not being Jackie Kennedy. She is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-have-nothing-against-the-queen-of-england-even-in-my-heart-i-never/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [I loved you when you opened like a lily to the heat; you see I’m just another snowman standing in the rain and sleet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-loved-you-when-you-opened-like-a-lily-to-the-heat-you-see-i-m-just/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [It's time that we began to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/it-s-time-that-we-began-to-laugh-and-cry-and-cry-and-laugh-about-it/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [“I followed the course From chaos to art Desire the horse Depression the cart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-followed-the-course-from-chaos-to-art-desire-the-horse-depression/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

[Explore all 543 Leonard Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

## More Free quotes

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [If you love anything set it free unless it is a tiger..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshitij-roshan/if-you-love-anything-set-it-free-unless-it-is-a-tiger/)

[Kshitij Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshitij-roshan/)

> [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/)

[Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/)

[Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/)

> [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/)

[Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/)

> [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/)

[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

> [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/)

[Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/)

> [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/)

Gift of Gab

> [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/)

[Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/)

Browse all 6,143 Free quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leonard Cohen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-sea-shall-free-them/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Free"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-sea-shall-free-them/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/leonard-cohen-448_free_all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-s_2290468.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them” — Leonard Cohen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Leonard Cohen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All men will be sailors then...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-sea-shall-free-them/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/all-men-will-be-sailors-then-until-the-sea-shall-free-them/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
