--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to…" description: "\"“Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You look like you could go on forever..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg" --- # Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be… ![“Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You look like you could go on forever.” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg) > ““Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You look like you could go on forever.”” [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. Embraces vulnerability, suggesting strength lies in accepting weakness and fatigue. **In simple terms:** Being weak and tired is okay and can be powerful. Key Takeaway Accept and own your limits. Themes vulnerability strength acceptance authenticity resilience Mood reflective empathetic thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Personal reflection - creative work - public speaking - mental health advocacy - team leadership Key Concepts Existential honesty self‑compassion human frailty Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt strongest after admitting fatigue? - How does vulnerability enhance your relationships? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on weakness may discourage striving for improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-weak-4505856/) [Avoid Flourish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid-flourish-4505857/) [Flourish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourish/) [Flourish Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourish-afraid-4505855/) [Good Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-tired-610318/) ## Related quotes > [Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-be-weak-do-not-be-ashamed-to/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“With you, I truly am fearless, Marcus. With you, I’m not even afraid to be weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-simcoe/with-you-i-truly-am-fearless-marcus-with-you-i-m-not-even-afraid-to/) [Marina Simcoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-simcoe/) > [“Don't be afraid to be weak Don't be too proud to be strong Just look into your heart my friend That will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enigma/don-t-be-afraid-to-be-weak-don-t-be-too-proud-to-be-strong-just-look/) [Enigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enigma/) > [Good tired, ironically enough, can be a day that you lost. But you won’t even have to tell yourself, because you knew you fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/good-tired-ironically-enough-can-be-a-day-that-you-lost-but-you-won-t/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [Sometimes, how I said already, I just wake up and play good. And sometimes I'm so tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-rosol/sometimes-how-i-said-already-i-just-wake-up-and-play-good-and/) [Lukas Rosol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-rosol/) > [It is good to be tired and wearied by the futile search after the true good, that we may stretch out our arms to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/it-is-good-to-be-tired-and-wearied-by-the-futile-search-after-the/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [How good are you when you're tired? How good are you when it counts?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-jay-taylor/how-good-are-you-when-you-re-tired-how-good-are-you-when-it-counts/) [T Jay Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-jay-taylor/) > [People flourish if they’re praised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-flourish-if-they-re-praised/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [With vision we flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/with-vision-we-flourish/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [“Talent is like a little seed; when nurtured, it will flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/talent-is-like-a-little-seed-when-nurtured-it-will-flourish/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Dear Superwoman, Seasons are there for a reason. You may not flourish now, but when it is your season, your cup will overflow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-superwoman-seasons-are-there-for-a-reason-you-may-not-flourish/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“The seed we bury in soil, Flourish, even after we die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymat-khan/the-seed-we-bury-in-soil-flourish-even-after-we-die/) [Neymat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymat-khan/) > [I'm definitely someone that is always on the go, and that's what I really flourish in and that will probably never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/i-m-definitely-someone-that-is-always-on-the-go-and-that-s-what-i/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) ## 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 Flourish quotes > [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [I'm definitely someone that is always on the go, and that's what I really flourish in and that will probably never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/i-m-definitely-someone-that-is-always-on-the-go-and-that-s-what-i/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [“The seed we bury in soil, Flourish, even after we die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymat-khan/the-seed-we-bury-in-soil-flourish-even-after-we-die/) [Neymat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymat-khan/) > [“Dear Superwoman, Seasons are there for a reason. You may not flourish now, but when it is your season, your cup will overflow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-superwoman-seasons-are-there-for-a-reason-you-may-not-flourish/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“Talent is like a little seed; when nurtured, it will flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/talent-is-like-a-little-seed-when-nurtured-it-will-flourish/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [With vision we flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/with-vision-we-flourish/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [People flourish if they’re praised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-flourish-if-they-re-praised/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“You must never cease to believe. Even when there is more reason to quit, keep searching for the right doors, despite everything. Flourish!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/you-must-never-cease-to-believe-even-when-there-is-more-reason-to/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [If you don't let people flourish in their jobs, why are they going to stay?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/if-you-don-t-let-people-flourish-in-their-jobs-why-are-they-going-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Flourishing goes beyond happiness, or satisfaction with life. True, people who flourish are happy. But that's not the half of it. Beyond feeling good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-fredrickson/flourishing-goes-beyond-happiness-or-satisfaction-with-life-true/) [Barbara Fredrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-fredrickson/) > [Arms and laws do not flourish together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/arms-and-laws-do-not-flourish-together/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [Growing up in Britain as a rather loose Jew, the two things that didn't belong together were freedom and religious intensity. In America, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/growing-up-in-britain-as-a-rather-loose-jew-the-two-things-that-didn/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [“You flourish when you move upward and forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-flourish-when-you-move-upward-and-forward/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [Government can't create wealth, but it can create the conditions for private enterprise to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/government-can-t-create-wealth-but-it-can-create-the-conditions-for/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) [Browse all 151 Flourish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re tired. You look like you could go on forever.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-be-weak-do-not-be-ashamed-to-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flourish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-be-weak-do-not-be-ashamed-to-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/leonard-cohen-448_flourish_avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-b_3178568.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Avoid the flourish. Do not be afraid to be weak. Do not be ashamed to be tired. You look good when you’re…” — 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": "“Avoid the flourish. Do not be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-be-weak-do-not-be-ashamed-to-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/avoid-the-flourish-do-not-be-afraid-to-be-weak-do-not-be-ashamed-to-2/#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 } } ] } ```