--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can keep the body as well-oiled and…" description: "\"You can keep the body as well-oiled and receptive as possible, but whether you're actually going to be able to go for the long haul is really not your ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/leonard-cohen-448_able_you-can-keep-the-body-as-well-oiled-and_1681808.jpg" --- # You can keep the body as well-oiled and receptive as… ![“You can keep the body as well-oiled and receptive as possible, but whether you're actually going to be able to go for the long haul is really not your own choice.” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/leonard-cohen-448_able_you-can-keep-the-body-as-well-oiled-and_1681808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/leonard-cohen-448_able_you-can-keep-the-body-as-well-oiled-and_1681808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/leonard-cohen-448_able_you-can-keep-the-body-as-well-oiled-and_1681808.jpg) > “You can keep the body as well-oiled and receptive as possible, but whether you're actually going to be able to go for the long haul is really not your own choice.” [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. Physical readiness matters, but long‑term endurance depends on personal choice and circumstances. **In simple terms:** Fitness alone isn’t enough. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilience and make deliberate choices. Themes health self‑discipline longevity Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marathon training - career stamina - relationship commitment Key Concepts psychology willpower Questions to Reflect On - What choices have you delayed? - How do you balance preparation with acceptance? A Different Perspective External factors can undermine even the strongest resolve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Long haul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-haul/) ## Related quotes > [To have been able to do this for so long and to not have to work a regular job is a thrill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-sr/to-have-been-able-to-do-this-for-so-long-and-to-not-have-to-work-a/) [Robert Downey Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-sr/) > [I'm thankful that I was able to have a long, healthy career for the most part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-m-thankful-that-i-was-able-to-have-a-long-healthy-career-for-the/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [A lot of bands that are great disappear a little bit faster than they used to. They don't get as much support for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/a-lot-of-bands-that-are-great-disappear-a-little-bit-faster-than-they/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [Long-haul trucking. Just roaming the country, alone, with audiobooks and podcasts, sleeping in the back of the cab, showering at gas stations at 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/long-haul-trucking-just-roaming-the-country-alone-with-audiobooks-and/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [You're either in it for the long haul or you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-gayle/you-re-either-in-it-for-the-long-haul-or-you-re-not/) [Crystal Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-gayle/) > [“It's a long haul bringing up our children to be good; you have to keep doing that — bring them up — and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-erikson/it-s-a-long-haul-bringing-up-our-children-to-be-good-you-have-to-keep/) [Erik Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-erikson/) > [Surveys show that many talented and committed young people are reluctant to enter teaching for the long haul because they think the profession is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/surveys-show-that-many-talented-and-committed-young-people-are/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [No matter how skillful the trading scheme, over the long haul, abnormal returns are sustained only through abnormal exposure to risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/no-matter-how-skillful-the-trading-scheme-over-the-long-haul-abnormal/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [There's a lot of games played, a lot of snaps played over the long haul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/there-s-a-lot-of-games-played-a-lot-of-snaps-played-over-the-long-haul/) [Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/) > [Over the long haul I'd say that most directors I've worked with have been pretty sensitive to the quality of the interpreted scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/over-the-long-haul-i-d-say-that-most-directors-i-ve-worked-with-have/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I think when you're a fan of music - at least the way I've been a fan to artists that have really touched me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-when-you-re-a-fan-of-music-at-least-the-way-i-ve-been-a-fan/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [The media wants overnight successes (so they have someone to tear down). Ignore them. Ignore the early adopter critics that never have enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-media-wants-overnight-successes-so-they-have-someone-to-tear-down/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [As you give to fund God's needs, are you forced to trust Him to provide for yours? That's what a growing faith is about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/as-you-give-to-fund-god-s-needs-are-you-forced-to-trust-him-to/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Dieting is long-haul. Many rapid weight loss programs actually only squeeze the water out of you. Just like a wet sponge. But a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/dieting-is-long-haul-many-rapid-weight-loss-programs-actually-only/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [We said from the very beginning that we're in this for the long haul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/we-said-from-the-very-beginning-that-we-re-in-this-for-the-long-haul/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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