By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn’t want your daughter to associate with. Duke Ellington
The wise musicians are those who play what they can master. Duke Ellington
Playing ‘bop’ is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing. Duke Ellington
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
Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don’t want it. Duke Ellington
Critics have their purposes, and they’re supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did. Duke Ellington
Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn’t want me to be too famous too young. Duke Ellington
My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never. Duke Ellington
Self-discipline, as a virtue or an acquired asset, can be invaluable to anyone. Duke Ellington
There is no art when one does something without intention. Duke Ellington