Duke Ellington Quotes

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

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

- Duke Ellington

People do not retire. They are retired by others.

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.

- Duke Ellington

On becoming more acquainted with the word of the Bible, I began to understand so much more of what I had been taught, and of what I had learned about life and about the people in mine.

- Duke Ellington

Gray skies are just clouds passing over.

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

A man is a god in ruins.

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington

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

- Duke Ellington