Joseph Stalin

Advance towards socialism cannot but cause the exploiting elements to resist the advance, and the resistance of the exploiters cannot but lead to the inevitable sharpening of the class struggle.

Great Britain provided time; the United States provided money and Soviet Russia provided blood.

I trust no one, not even myself.

There is not, nor should there be, an irreconcilable contrast between the individual and the collective, between the interests of an individual person and the interests of the collective.

As you can see, even when [Adolf] Hitler desires to speak for peace, he cannot dispense with threats. This is symptomatic.

The Jews are not a nation!

Without jazz, life would be a mistake.

I never believed in a set routine. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.

A guy is influenced by hundreds of people and things, and all show up in his work. To fasten on any one or two is ridiculous. I will say one thing, though. Lennie Tristano’s early records impressed me tremendously. Tunes like ‘Tautology,’ ‘Marshmallow,’ and ‘Fishin’ Around.’ I heard the fellows in his group building their lines with a design and general structure that was different from anything I’d ever heard in jazz.

Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That’s why I wanted the clarinet.

Live music is best! Make plans to get out and support your local Jazz scene.

I think that what is important is that the music be honest and direct and that it is relevant to today.

People don’t want to suffer. They want to sound good immediately and this is one of the biggest problems.

Only play what you hear. If you don’t hear anything, don’t play anything.

Kinship doesn’t come from skin color. It’s in your soul and your mind.

I think I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to sound like a dry martini.

When Bird came on the scene, it was shocking as in the Bible: everything was dark and then there was light.

I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That’s all I know.

If you’re gonna sing meaningful songs, you have to be committed to living a life that backs that up.

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write to ultimately be at peace with himself.