Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it.
– 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
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
Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young.
– Duke Ellington
Gray skies are just clouds passing over.
– Duke Ellington
I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.
– Duke Ellington
It's like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something.
– Duke Ellington
Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.
– Duke Ellington
My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.
– Duke Ellington
Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees.
– Duke Ellington
Playing bop is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.
– Duke Ellington
Roaming through the jungle of oohs and ahs, searching for a more agreeable noise, I live a life of primitivity with the mind of a child and an unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats.
– Duke Ellington
The wise musicians are those who play what they can master.
– Duke Ellington
There is hardly any money interest in art, and music will be there when money is gone.
– Duke Ellington
You've got to find some way of saying it without saying it.