Quotes from Duke Ellington
Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it.
— Duke Ellington
Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It's not an occupation or profession, it's a compulsion.
— Duke Ellington
My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.
— Duke Ellington
I don't need time. What I need is a deadline!
— Duke Ellington
Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited
— Duke Ellington
I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right.
— Duke Ellington
I don't need time, I need a deadline.
— Duke Ellington
By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.
— Duke Ellington
Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to no one.
— Duke Ellington
Jazz is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.
— Duke Ellington
It's like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something.
— Duke Ellington
Critics have their purposes, and they're supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did.
— Duke Ellington