QuoteProject
When the band plays fast, you play slow; when the band plays slow, you play fast.
Miles Davis
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Adapt your pace to the rhythm of your surroundings.

Miles Davis's quote emphasizes the importance of adaptability in life, suggesting that one should adjust their actions and pace according to the circumstances and environment. This philosophy can be applied not just in music but in personal and professional interactions, advocating for a fluid approach to challenges and opportunities.

Themes

AdaptabilityRhythmLifeMusicFlexibility

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote in a motivational speech about overcoming challenges.

More from Miles Davis

Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
Miles DavisRead
Joao Gilberto on guitar could read a newspaper and sound good.
Miles DavisRead
I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since.
Miles DavisRead
Don't play what's there, play what's not there.
Miles DavisRead
My ego only needs a good rhythm section
Miles DavisRead
I know what I've done for music, but don't call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.
Miles DavisRead

Similar quotes

When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don't go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it.
James BrownRead
Which is the other reason hip-hop is controversial: People don't bother trying to get it. The problem isn't in the rap or the rapper or the culture. The problem is that so many people don't even know how to listen to the music.
Jay-ZRead
... with Voodoo Child somebody was filming when we started doing that. We did that about three times because they wanted to film us in the studio, to make us (imitates a pompous voice) 'make it look like you're recording boys' - one of them scenes, you know, so okey, let's play this and then we went into Voodoo Child
Jimi HendrixRead
No, I don't know how to get young people to start listening to jazz again. But I do know this: Any symphony orchestra that thinks it can appeal to under-30 listeners by suggesting that they 'should' like Schubert and Stravinsky has already lost the battle.
Terry TeachoutRead
I was at the first Minor Threat show, and you could tell, 'This band is going to be the king of the town.' It was obvious. They were so good.
Henry RollinsRead
There is no such thing as happy music.
Franz SchubertRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.