Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
Miles DavisRead
...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on the new thing so they don't look unhip. White people are especially like that, particularly when a black person is doing something they don't understand...That's what I thought was happening when Ornette hit town.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often embrace trends they don't fully understand, especially if they seem popular or fashionable.
In this quote, Miles Davis reflects on the tendency of individuals, particularly in the context of race, to engage with cultural phenomena solely based on their visibility or hype rather than genuine understanding. He highlights how the desire to fit in and be perceived as 'hip' can lead people to adopt new trends without comprehending their significance, suggesting a superficial engagement with cultural innovations.
Themes
HypeCultureUnderstandingTrendsSocietyRace
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on cultural appreciation, I could cite this quote to emphasize the importance of understanding the roots of trends.
More from Miles Davis
All quotes →Joao Gilberto on guitar could read a newspaper and sound good.
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I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since.
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When the band plays fast, you play slow; when the band plays slow, you play fast.
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Don't play what's there, play what's not there.
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My ego only needs a good rhythm section
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