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When this ugly gangster told Joe Glaser that he must take the name of Armstrong down, off of the marquee, and it was an 'order from Al Capone,' Mr. Glaser looked this cat straight in the face and told him these words: 'I think that Louis Armstrong is the world's greatest, and this is my place, and I defy anybody to take his name down from there.'
Louis Armstrong
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Standing up for what you believe in, even against threats, showcases true bravery.

This quote highlights the courage it takes to stand firm in one's beliefs and defend someone you admire, regardless of external pressures or threats. Joe Glaser's defiance in the face of a crime boss's demand demonstrates loyalty and integrity, showcasing the importance of supporting individuals who have made a significant positive impact, like Louis Armstrong.

Themes

CourageDefianceLeadershipIntegritySupport

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech about standing up for civil rights.

More from Louis Armstrong

The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. Things like old folks singing in the moonlight in the back yard on a hot night or something said long ago.
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Making money ain't nothing exciting to me. You might be able to buy a little better booze than the wino on the corner. But you get sick just like the next cat and when you die you're just as graveyard dead as he is.
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Very few of the men whose names have become great in the early pioneering of jazz and of swing were trained in music at all. They were born musicians: they felt their music and played by ear and memory. That was the way it was with the great Dixieland Five.
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My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn.
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I've Got the World on a String.
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It's America's classical music ... this becomes our tradition ... the bottom line of any country in the world is what did we contribute to the world? ... we contributed Louis Armstrong
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