Duke Ellington quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Duke Ellington on Wise Famous Quotes.

Duke Ellington quotes: Love is supreme and unconditional. Like is nice, but limited.

Love is supreme and unconditional. Like is nice, but limited.

Duke Ellington quotes: Problems are chances for us to do our best.

Problems are chances for us to do our best.

Duke Ellington quotes: My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.

My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.

Duke Ellington quotes: Simplicity is a most complex form

Simplicity is a most complex form

Duke Ellington quotes: There are 2 rules in life:Number 1- Never quitNumber2- Never forget rule number 1.

There are 2 rules in life:
Number 1- Never quit
Number2- Never forget rule number 1.

Duke Ellington quotes: Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees.

Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees.

Duke Ellington quotes: I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.

Duke Ellington quotes: A goal is a dream with a finish line.

A goal is a dream with a finish line.

Duke Ellington quotes: You've got to find some way of saying it without saying it.

You've got to find some way of saying it without saying it.

Duke Ellington quotes: There are two kinds of worries - those you can do something about and those you can't. Don't spend any time on the latter.

There are two kinds of worries - those you can do something about and those you can't. Don't spend any time on the latter.

Duke Ellington quotes: It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

Duke Ellington quotes: The artist must say it without saying it.

The artist must say it without saying it.

Duke Ellington quotes: There is nothing to keeping a band together. You simply have to have a gimmick, and the gimmick I use is to pay them money!

There is nothing to keeping a band together. You simply have to have a gimmick, and the gimmick I use is to pay them money!

Duke Ellington quotes: Sing sweet, but put a little dirt in it.

Sing sweet, but put a little dirt in it.

Duke Ellington quotes: If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band!

If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band!

Duke Ellington quotes: I don't need time. What I need is a deadline!

I don't need time. What I need is a deadline!

Duke Ellington quotes: What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?

What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?

Duke Ellington quotes: Selfishness can be a virtue. Selfishness is essential to survival, and without survival we cannot protect those whom we love more than ourselves.

Selfishness can be a virtue. Selfishness is essential to survival, and without survival we cannot protect those whom we love more than ourselves.

Duke Ellington quotes: Every man prays in his own language.

Every man prays in his own language.

Duke Ellington quotes: Critics get a little carried away with what someone should have done, rather than what he did.

Critics get a little carried away with what someone should have done, rather than what he did.

Duke Ellington quotes: If it sounds good, it IS good.

If it sounds good, it IS good.

Duke Ellington quotes: Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to no one.

Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to no one.

Duke Ellington quotes: I fluffed off the guy who kept requesting tunes all night, then found out he was the King's son.

I fluffed off the guy who kept requesting tunes all night, then found out he was the King's son.

Duke Ellington quotes: Without a deadline, baby, I wouldn't do nothing.

Without a deadline, baby, I wouldn't do nothing.

Duke Ellington quotes: If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good!

If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good!

Duke Ellington quotes: Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It's not an occupation or profession, it's a compulsion.

Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It's not an occupation or profession, it's a compulsion.

Duke Ellington quotes: The wise musicians are those who play what they can master.

The wise musicians are those who play what they can master.

Duke Ellington quotes: There is no art when one does something without intention.

There is no art when one does something without intention.

Duke Ellington quotes: Music is the tonal reflection of beauty.

Music is the tonal reflection of beauty.

Duke Ellington quotes: Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.

Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.

Duke Ellington quotes: It doesn't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing

It doesn't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing

Duke Ellington quotes: It's like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something.

It's like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something.

Duke Ellington quotes: You have to stop listening in categories. The music is either good or it's bad.

You have to stop listening in categories. The music is either good or it's bad.

Duke Ellington quotes: There is no art without intention.

There is no art without intention.

Duke Ellington quotes: Self-discipline, as a virtue or an acquired asset, can be invaluable to anyone.

Self-discipline, as a virtue or an acquired asset, can be invaluable to anyone.

Duke Ellington quotes: A Satin Doll is a woman who is as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.

A Satin Doll is a woman who is as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.

Duke Ellington quotes: There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.

There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.

Duke Ellington quotes: A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Duke Ellington quotes: People do not retire. They are retired by others.

People do not retire. They are retired by others.

Duke Ellington quotes: Be a number one yourself. And not a number two somebody else.

Be a number one yourself. And not a number two somebody else.

Duke Ellington quotes: Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.

Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.

Duke Ellington quotes: My biggest kick in music -playing or writing- is when I have a problem. Without a problem to solve, how much interest do you take in anything?

My biggest kick in music -playing or writing- is when I have a problem. Without a problem to solve, how much interest do you take in anything?

Duke Ellington quotes: You can't write music right unless you know how the man that'll play it plays poker.

You can't write music right unless you know how the man that'll play it plays poker.

Duke Ellington quotes: Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.

Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.

Duke Ellington quotes: Hurry, get on board, it's comin', listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard. Get on the "A" train, soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem.

Hurry, get on board, it's comin', listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard. Get on the "A" train, soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem.

Duke Ellington quotes: Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it.

Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it.

Duke Ellington quotes: By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.

By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.

Duke Ellington quotes: The Europeans who went to Africa came back with modern' art. What is more African than a Picasso?

The Europeans who went to Africa came back with modern' art. What is more African than a Picasso?

Duke Ellington quotes: Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.

Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.

Duke Ellington quotes: New music? Hell, there's been no new music since Stravinsky.

New music? Hell, there's been no new music since Stravinsky.

Duke Ellington quotes: Everyone prays in their own language, and there is no language that God does not understand.

Everyone prays in their own language, and there is no language that God does not understand.

Duke Ellington quotes: There is hardly any money interest in art, and music will be there when money is gone.

There is hardly any money interest in art, and music will be there when money is gone.

Duke Ellington quotes: Of the One O'Clock Lab Band after hearing their performance, and sitting in with them at the White House: "I wish it were mine".

Of the One O'Clock Lab Band after hearing their performance, and sitting in with them at the White House: "I wish it were mine".

Duke Ellington quotes: Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young.

Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young.

Duke Ellington quotes: Tomorrow is in the wings waiting for you to sound her entrance fanfare.

Tomorrow is in the wings waiting for you to sound her entrance fanfare.

Duke Ellington quotes: Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.

Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.

Duke Ellington quotes: I don't need time, I need a deadline.

I don't need time, I need a deadline.

Duke Ellington quotes: You've got to find a way of saying it without saying it.

You've got to find a way of saying it without saying it.

Duke Ellington quotes: The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.

The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.