There is a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in

Cafe Society
1

As far as I know, the line in the title of this thread was written by Leonard Cohen for his song Anthem. I’ve never heard it in any other context.

However, I happened to notice it on a calendar that one of my coworkers has posted in her cubicle. The calendar does not attribute the quote, and the calendar does not otherwise seem to be Leonard Cohen-related.

It got me wondering – is this an old phrase that Cohen appropriated?

Google seems to only return Leonard Cohen references.

What say you all – has anyone heard it? Has anyone heard it prior to 1992?

2

I believe this specific line is original to Cohen, but it is likely inspired by a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “There is a crack in everything God has made.”

3

It’s by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The full sentence is "There is a crack in everything God has made.

4

There’s a crack in me, butt I can’t see it without a mirror.