--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's been a long time since I've stood on…" description: "\"It's been a long time since I've stood on a stage in London. Was about 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. Since the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/leonard-cohen-448_cheerfulness_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-ve-stood-o_285517.jpg" --- # It's been a long time since I've stood on a stage in… ![“It's been a long time since I've stood on a stage in London. Was about 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Ritalin, Focalin. I've also studied deeply in the philosophies and the religions, but…” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/leonard-cohen-448_cheerfulness_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-ve-stood-o_285517.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/leonard-cohen-448_cheerfulness_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-ve-stood-o_285517.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/leonard-cohen-448_cheerfulness_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-ve-stood-o_285517.jpg) > “It's been a long time since I've stood on a stage in London. Was about 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Ritalin, Focalin. I've also studied deeply in the philosophies and the religions, but cheerfulness kept breaking through.” [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. Reflects on aging, mental health struggles, and enduring optimism despite challenges. **In simple terms:** Aging, medication, philosophy, and persistent cheerfulness. Key Takeaway Embrace hope regardless of hardships. Themes aging mental health optimism creativity spirituality Mood reflective hopeful introspective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - Writing - performing - personal reflection - therapy Key Concepts Resilience hope philosophical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance creative ambition with mental health? - What practices sustain your cheerfulness? A Different Perspective Optimism may mask underlying issues needing professional care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheerfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerfulness/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Medication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medication/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Ritalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritalin/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“About 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. Since then I’ve taken a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanton-peele/about-14-or-15-years-ago-i-was-60-years-old-just-a-kid-with-a-crazy/) [Stanton Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanton-peele/) > [The White House comes out and says it's going to do a major study of the effects on preschool-age children using Ritalin, Prozac and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/the-white-house-comes-out-and-says-it-s-going-to-do-a-major-study-of/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [I don't want to take a pill. Go to Africa, go follow some bushman around. He's being chased by a lion. That's stress. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-don-t-want-to-take-a-pill-go-to-africa-go-follow-some-bushman/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [In 2003, GlaxoSmithKline paid $88 million in civil fines for overcharging Medicaid for its anti-depressant Paxil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/in-2003-glaxosmithkline-paid-88-million-in-civil-fines-for/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [ \[Prozac\] didn't seem to have any effect whatsoever on my melancholy, my dark vision, and everything else that I'd taken it for. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/prozac-didn-t-seem-to-have-any-effect-whatsoever-on-my-melancholy-my/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I noticed that when I was on Prozac my relationship with the landscape improved. I actually stopped thinking about myself for a minute or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-noticed-that-when-i-was-on-prozac-my-relationship-with-the/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [There are a few things that deal with passion. There's Prozac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/there-are-a-few-things-that-deal-with-passion-there-s-prozac/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [ I looked into \[Prozac\]. I must say that it is certainly a wonder drug. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-looked-into-prozac-i-must-say-that-it-is-certainly-a-wonder-drug/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [ What \[Prozac\] does is completely annihilate the sexual drive, so the question of passion hardly arises. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/what-prozac-does-is-completely-annihilate-the-sexual-drive-so-the/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [How bitter were the Prozac pills of the last few hundred mornings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/how-bitter-were-the-prozac-pills-of-the-last-few-hundred-mornings/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [You don't know what it's like! Hyperactive twins! When they turned three, my doctor prescribed Ritalin -- I wouldn't dream of giving a drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/you-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-hyperactive-twins-when-they-turned/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [I was not good in school. I could never read very fast or very well. I got tested for learning disabilities, for dyslexia. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/i-was-not-good-in-school-i-could-never-read-very-fast-or-very-well-i/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [We are completely void of anything to do with God. Teachers can't touch a child - even to hug a crying child. Young boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/we-are-completely-void-of-anything-to-do-with-god-teachers-can-t/) [William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/) > [There is a systemic problem in this country, where schools are often forcing parents to turn to Ritalin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/there-is-a-systemic-problem-in-this-country-where-schools-are-often/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [“Viagra isn't the only drug being prescribed off-label for women with arousal problems. Los Angeles urologist Jennifer Berman told me some doctors are prescribing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/viagra-isn-t-the-only-drug-being-prescribed-off-label-for-women-with/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) ## 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 Cheerfulness quotes > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [When you drop your unnecessary things, you finally can swoop and fly in vast space. It is so blue, so bright, and so nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-you-drop-your-unnecessary-things-you-finally-can-swoop-and-fly/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Even the smallest landscape can offer pride of ownership not only to its inhabitants but to its neighbors. The world delights in a garden……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-moir-messervy/even-the-smallest-landscape-can-offer-pride-of-ownership-not-only-to/) Julie Moir Messervy > [Cheerfulness means a contented spirit, a pure heart, a kind and loving disposition; it means humility and ~ charity, a generous appreciation of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/cheerfulness-means-a-contented-spirit-a-pure-heart-a-kind-and-loving/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I have observed that in comedies the best actor plays the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the fine gentleman or hero. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [I believe that God will help us to forget things, the memory of which would do us harm, or rather that He will enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/i-believe-that-god-will-help-us-to-forget-things-the-memory-of-which/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“Unsavoury as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above. ("In The Court Of The Dragon")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-chambers/unsavoury-as-it-is-below-there-is-cheerfulness-and-comfort-and-hard/) [Robert W. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-chambers/) > [“Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/cheerfulness-keeps-up-a-kind-of-daylight-in-the-mind-and-fills-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“One world is aware and by far the largest to me, and that is myself, / And whether I come to my own to-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/one-world-is-aware-and-by-far-the-largest-to-me-and-that-is-myself/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Actions seems to follow feeling, but really actions and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/actions-seems-to-follow-feeling-but-really-actions-and-feeling-go/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/cheerfulness-and-contentment-are-great-beautifiers/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness, - an open and noble temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/health-is-the-condition-of-wisdom-and-the-sign-is-cheerfulness-an/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 346 Cheerfulness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerfulness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's been a long time since I've stood on a stage in London. Was about 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Ritalin, Focalin. 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