--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't kill myself when things went…" description: "\"“I didn't kill myself when things went wrong I didn't turn to drugs or teaching I tried to sleep but when I couldn't sleep I learned to write I learned..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/leonard-cohen-448_education_i-didn-t-kill-myself-when-things-went-wr_3042737.jpg" --- # I didn't kill myself when things went wrong I didn't turn… ![“I didn't kill myself when things went wrong I didn't turn to drugs or teaching I tried to sleep but when I couldn't sleep I learned to write I learned to write what might be read on nights like this by one like me” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/leonard-cohen-448_education_i-didn-t-kill-myself-when-things-went-wr_3042737.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/leonard-cohen-448_education_i-didn-t-kill-myself-when-things-went-wr_3042737.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/leonard-cohen-448_education_i-didn-t-kill-myself-when-things-went-wr_3042737.jpg) > ““I didn't kill myself when things went wrong I didn't turn to drugs or teaching I tried to sleep but when I couldn't sleep I learned to write I learned to write what might be read on nights like this by one like me”” [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. When life collapses, he turned to writing instead of self‑destruction, using creativity as a coping mechanism. **In simple terms:** Writing helped him survive hardship. Key Takeaway Channel pain into creative expression. Themes creative coping writing resilience self‑care Mood melancholic hopeful Type artistic reflective When to use this quote - nighttime insomnia - emotional turmoil - artist block - personal loss Key Concepts literature mental health artistic therapy Questions to Reflect On - What outlet helps you process pain? - How can you make writing a regular habit? A Different Perspective Writing may not replace professional help for severe issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couldn Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-sleep/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Kill Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-myself/) [Learned Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-write/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sleep Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep-learned-3002442/) [Tried Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-sleep-579515/) [Write Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-learned-1049950/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“When I started to learn how to read, I discovered the same kind of power. I could create an environment that I didn't have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-richie/when-i-started-to-learn-how-to-read-i-discovered-the-same-kind-of/) [Donald Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-richie/) > [“...in going to sleep he had learned to vanquish light, and now the light could not rewake him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/in-going-to-sleep-he-had-learned-to-vanquish-light-and-now-the-light/) [T.H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/) > [I got invited to the White House, and I tried to sleep there overnight without permission. The Secret Service came to my house, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-paul/i-got-invited-to-the-white-house-and-i-tried-to-sleep-there-overnight/) [Jake Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-paul/) > [I woke up at five o'clock in the morning with the whole first paragraph in my head. 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With every sentence you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/no-writing-is-a-waste-of-time-no-creative-work-where-the-feelings-the-2/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [“He’d tried to sleep, too, but that was an elusive bitch who had no use for him tonight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/he-d-tried-to-sleep-too-but-that-was-an-elusive-bitch-who-had-no-use/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I want to assure you with all earnestness, that no writing is a waste of time, – no creative work where the feelings, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/i-want-to-assure-you-with-all-earnestness-that-no-writing-is-a-waste/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [“He taught me to read and write. I learned my lessons with my elder children. He has always kept school in our house, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/he-taught-me-to-read-and-write-i-learned-my-lessons-with-my-elder/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [He taught me everything I know. Every note I write I learned from that man upstairs. People rave over my arranging today, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-riddle/he-taught-me-everything-i-know-every-note-i-write-i-learned-from-that/) [Nelson Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-riddle/) > [I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. But it was not until much later that I was able to get any real sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-closed-my-eyes-and-tried-to-sleep-but-it-was-not-until-much-later/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Under the stars,I tried to sleep,but for once in my life couldn't.My mutant super power-the ability to nod off at at the drop of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovegrove/under-the-stars-i-tried-to-sleep-but-for-once-in-my-life-couldn-t-my/) [James Lovegrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovegrove/) > [Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/write-with-the-learned-pronounce-with-the-vulgar/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## 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. 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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 Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. 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