--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact that my songs take a long time…" description: "\"The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no guarantee of their excellence.\" — Leonard Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg" --- # The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no… ![“The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no guarantee of their excellence.” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg) > “The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no guarantee of their excellence.” [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. Writing songs slowly does not guarantee quality; effort and time are not proxies for excellence. **In simple terms:** Slow creation ≠ excellence. Key Takeaway Focus on craft, not speed. Themes artistry patience quality Mood reflective inquisitive Type artistic analytical When to use this quote - songwriting - album production - creative deadlines Key Concepts creative process musical composition Questions to Reflect On - How can one assess song quality? - What other factors influence artistic excellence? A Different Perspective Time alone does not ensure brilliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Don't hate me for what tabloids write about me, because I guarantee it's a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/don-t-hate-me-for-what-tabloids-write-about-me-because-i-guarantee-it/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [Songs seem to take me a long time. I don't know why; they're not especially excellent for taking so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/songs-seem-to-take-me-a-long-time-i-don-t-know-why-they-re-not/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I didn't write songs for a very long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-didn-t-write-songs-for-a-very-long-time/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-out-of-material-that-s/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I just know that I love to write songs, and I have for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-gossard/i-just-know-that-i-love-to-write-songs-and-i-have-for-a-long-time/) [Stone Gossard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-gossard/) > [To write a song is one thing, to get it to No.1 is another and to have a respected artist cover it is incredible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakin-stevens/to-write-a-song-is-one-thing-to-get-it-to-no-1-is-another-and-to-have/) [Shakin' Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakin-stevens/) > [Am I the only one who measures time using songs? “Oh it only took me 4 songs to get here! that’s not to long!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/am-i-the-only-one-who-measures-time-using-songs-oh-it-only-took-me-4/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [My problem with eighties songs is they take too long to get to the chorus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-luke/my-problem-with-eighties-songs-is-they-take-too-long-to-get-to-the/) [Dr. Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-luke/) > [With Joe Walsh, that was kind of random. I'd written 'Hi-Roller Baby' for myself while I was at Island/Def Jam; literally, four years later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/with-joe-walsh-that-was-kind-of-random-i-d-written-hi-roller-baby-for/) LP > [I didn't really gig my way in. I was just in my bedroom writing songs for so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-lewis/i-didn-t-really-gig-my-way-in-i-was-just-in-my-bedroom-writing-songs/) [Dean Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-lewis/) > [ As far as what made it on there \[The Art of Elegance record\], it was tough. It's probably one or two songs too long,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chenoweth/as-far-as-what-made-it-on-there-the-art-of-elegance-record-it-was/) [Kristin Chenoweth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-chenoweth/) > [No matter how famous and established they were or however blessed they were with great songs or long careers, if they lived alone, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-brickell/no-matter-how-famous-and-established-they-were-or-however-blessed/) [Edie Brickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-brickell/) > [I have enjoyed writing songs for so long... it felt like in order to make music that I could relate to myself, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/i-have-enjoyed-writing-songs-for-so-long-it-felt-like-in-order-to/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) > [I love hearing the same songs over and over again - as long as queens challenge themselves to come up with new ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/i-love-hearing-the-same-songs-over-and-over-again-as-long-as-queens/) [Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/) > [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/) ## 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 Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no guarantee of their excellence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time-to-write-is-no-guarantee-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time-to-write-is-no-guarantee-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/leonard-cohen-448_excellence_the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time_2832881.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no guarantee of their excellence.” — 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": "The fact that my songs take...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time-to-write-is-no-guarantee-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time-to-write-is-no-guarantee-of/#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 } } ] } ```