--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Something I wrote quite a few years ago…" description: "\"Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, \"The voices in my head, they don't care what I do, they just want to argue the matter through and through...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg" --- # Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, "The voices… ![“Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, "The voices in my head, they don't care what I do, they just want to argue the matter through and through." It is a common mistake, to think you're going to go into some kind of spiritual practice and you're going to be relieved of the human burdens…” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg) > “Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, "The voices in my head, they don't care what I do, they just want to argue the matter through and through." It is a common mistake, to think you're going to go into some kind of spiritual practice and you're going to be relieved of the human burdens, from human crosses like thought, jealousy, despair - in fact, if anything, these feelings are amplified.” [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. Attempting spiritual practice does not erase human emotions; it often intensifies them, making inner dialogue louder. **In simple terms:** Spirituality can amplify inner struggles. Key Takeaway Accept and work with emotions, not avoid them. Themes spirituality mental health creativity Mood introspective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing retreats - therapy sessions - meditation practice Key Concepts inner dialogue self‑compassion psychology Questions to Reflect On - What emotions surface when you seek peace? - How can you use inner conflict creatively? A Different Perspective Spiritual practice alone cannot eliminate suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-practice/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voices in my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voices-in-my-head/) ## Related quotes > [I have so many different projects, I hear voices in my head - the characters talking all at once - and I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-have-so-many-different-projects-i-hear-voices-in-my-head-the/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [“Edge will contact you mind- to- mind and let you know what’s going on.” “So I should be prepared to hear voices in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lainie-malone/edge-will-contact-you-mind-to-mind-and-let-you-know-what-s-going-on/) Lainie Malone > [I dnt know even what I want, I'm hearing so many voices in my head that make me losing my mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inesjat/i-dnt-know-even-what-i-want-i-m-hearing-so-many-voices-in-my-head/) Inesjat > [“The voices in my head wouldn't shut up, so I let them write their story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shandy-l-kurth/the-voices-in-my-head-wouldn-t-shut-up-so-i-let-them-write-their-story/) [Shandy L. Kurth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shandy-l-kurth/) > [I have voices in my head, but they're all speaking Spanish, and I have NO idea what they're saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/i-have-voices-in-my-head-but-they-re-all-speaking-spanish-and-i-have/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [Dear voices in my head, talk separately so we can all understand each other, thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/dear-voices-in-my-head-talk-separately-so-we-can-all-understand-each/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Just me, my music, and the voices in my head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-silvers/just-me-my-music-and-the-voices-in-my-head/) Christie Silvers > [“I'm not crazy, but I suspect the voices in my head are. ~Chrissy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-sullivan/i-m-not-crazy-but-i-suspect-the-voices-in-my-head-are-chrissy/) Kelli Sullivan > [The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/the-voices-in-my-head-may-not-be-real-but-they-have-some-good-ideas/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [Blame the voices in my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/blame-the-voices-in-my-head/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [“The infinite voices in my head are incessantly determined. They will knock, claw, and annihilate my cranium until they are heard, and to top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-p-sharma/the-infinite-voices-in-my-head-are-incessantly-determined-they-will/) [M.P. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-p-sharma/) > [The voices in my head are trying to kill me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suicidal-scars/the-voices-in-my-head-are-trying-to-kill-me/) Suicidal\_scars > [All these screams All these voices in my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/all-these-screams-all-these-voices-in-my-head/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [I love being by the ocean. It stills the voices in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weitz/i-love-being-by-the-ocean-it-stills-the-voices-in-my-head/) [Chris Weitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weitz/) > [The voices in my head have voices in their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/the-voices-in-my-head-have-voices-in-their-heads/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## 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 Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, \"The voices in my head, they don't care what I do, they just want to argue the matter through and through.\" It is a common mistake, to think you're going to go into some kind of spiritual practice and you're going to be relieved of the human burdens, from human crosses like thought, jealousy, despair - in fact, if anything, these feelings are amplified.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago-was-the-voices-in-my-head/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago-was-the-voices-in-my-head/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/leonard-cohen-448_arguing_something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago_839045.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Something I wrote quite a few years ago was, \"The voices in my head, they don't care what I do, they just…” — 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": "Something I wrote quite a few...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago-was-the-voices-in-my-head/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/something-i-wrote-quite-a-few-years-ago-was-the-voices-in-my-head/#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 } } ] } ```