Quote by Leonard Cohen
Let judges secretly despair of justice: their verdicts will be more acute. Let generals secretly despair of triumph killing will be defamed. Let priests secretly despair of faith: their compassion will be true.
Summary
This quote suggests that if judges, generals, and priests secretly doubt the outcomes or beliefs they uphold, their actions will have a deeper impact. By privately wrestling with the flaws and limitations of the systems they represent, judges' verdicts would become more insightful, generals would encourage peace instead of glorifying killing, and priests would exhibit genuine compassion rather than merely expressing faith. The quote implies that acknowledging and questioning underlying doubts can lead to a more sincere and meaningful fulfillment of their respective roles in society.