I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.
Ray CharlesRead
I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't supposed to cry, but I think that's wrong. Crying's always been a way for me to get things out which are buried deep, deep down. When I sing, I often cry. Crying is feeling, and feeling is being human. Oh yes, I cry.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Crying is a natural expression of emotions that reflects human vulnerability.
In this quote, Ray Charles emphasizes the importance of emotional expression, particularly through crying, as a means to release pent-up feelings. He challenges the societal belief that men should suppress their emotions, arguing instead that crying is a fundamental aspect of being human and an essential way to confront and process deep-seated feelings. For him, singing often evokes tears, highlighting the connection between music, emotion, and authenticity.
Themes
CryingEmotionsHumanVulnerabilityMusic
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health, one might use this quote to encourage emotional well-being.
More from Ray Charles
All quotes →To me, music is entertainment - what else can it be? In fact, it's the only language I know of that's universal.
Ray CharlesRead
Just because you can't see anything , doesn't mean you should shut your eyes.
Ray CharlesRead
Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound egotistical, but it makes sense.
Ray CharlesRead
When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.
Ray CharlesRead
The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.
Ray CharlesRead
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