Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
Miles DavisRead
I know what I've done for music, but don't call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.
Interpretation
Miles Davis emphasizes humility despite his significant contributions to music.
In this quote, Miles Davis expresses a desire to be recognized for his individual identity rather than being labeled as a 'legend.' He acknowledges his impact on music but believes that such titles can overshadow the personal journey and effort behind the artistry. This highlights the importance of authenticity and personal connection to one's craft over external accolades.
In practice
In a music awards ceremony, you might quote Davis to emphasize the importance of personal journey over accolades.
Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
Joao Gilberto on guitar could read a newspaper and sound good.
I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since.
When the band plays fast, you play slow; when the band plays slow, you play fast.
Don't play what's there, play what's not there.
My ego only needs a good rhythm section
I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim too ugly or too this or too that.
'Society's Child' was a real hard record to start with. That's all you want is for you to put your first record out and have people screaming at you in the streets. But it taught me right away that what I was doing was valuable and important.
It's a gift, and a blessing, just to have a voice. And I'm proud that people do appreciate it, you know?
Sometimes with pop music, you have to see it to love it. With soul music, it's sparse. There's nothing that's pretentious or planned. It's just so gutsy.
I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it. I didn't ever want to be anything else. I just started banging away and semi-studied classical music at the Royal Academy of Music but sort of half-heartedly.
I owe very, very much to Mozart; and if one studies, for instance, the way in which I write for string quartet, then one cannot deny that I have learned this directly from Mozart. And I am proud of it!
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.