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Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.
Duke Ellington
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Duke Ellington expresses his devotion to music, prioritizing it above all else.

In this quote, Duke Ellington personifies music as his mistress, implying a deep and passionate relationship. He emphasizes that music holds a paramount place in his life, indicating that no other interest or commitment can overshadow his dedication to it, reflecting the profound impact art has on one's existence.

Themes

MusicDevotionPassionArtLife

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about creativity, one might say, 'As Duke Ellington once put it, Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one, emphasizing the importance of following one's passion.'

More from Duke Ellington

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.
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Tomorrow is in the wings waiting for you to sound her entrance fanfare.
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There is no art without intention.
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There is nothing to keeping a band together. You simply have to have a gimmick, and the gimmick I use is to pay them money!
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Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.
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