James Brown was an American musician, singer, songwriter, dancer and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was known as the "Godfather of Soul". He was the progenitor of funk music and a major figure of the Civil Rights Movement.
What is the most famous quote by James Brown ?
The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.
— James Brown
What can you learn from James Brown (Life Lessons)
- James Brown taught us to never give up and to keep pushing forward no matter what life throws at us. He overcame poverty and racism to become one of the most influential musicians of all time.
- He also showed us the importance of hard work and dedication, as he worked tirelessly to perfect his craft and make a name for himself.
- Lastly, James Brown taught us the power of self-belief and the importance of staying true to yourself and your values, no matter the cost.
The most empowering James Brown quotes that are simple and will have a huge impact on you
Following is a list of the best James Brown quotes, including various James Brown inspirational quotes, and other famous sayings by James Brown.
Don't terrorize. Organize. Don't burn. Give kids a chance to learn . . . The real answer to race problems in this country is education. Not burning and killing. Be ready. Be qualified. Own something. Be somebody. That's Black Power.
Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.
I only got a seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use
My music wasn't written by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach or Schubert.
It's written by God and me. They go "a one and a two and up." We start on the downbeat. Bam! And that's where we got them.
Got ants in my pants and I need to dance, so big fine mama, come give me a chance.
I want to say to you: Help yourself, so you can help someone else.
Tell the politicians and the hustlers: live and let live.
Don't let nobody take care of your business better than you.
Funk quotes by James Brown
I don't know karate, but I know crazy.
You got to live for yourself, yourself and nobody else.
My expectations of other people, I double them on myself.
Thank God that I had the ability to understand that I had a different beat and that I was a drummer.
Our silence is deafening and deadly.
I'm the most sampled and stolen. What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine, too... I got a song about that... But I'm never gonna release it. Don't want a war with the rappers. If it wasn't good, they wouldn't steal it.
We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. That was an anomaly in an of itself.
I'm a ghetto man who made good. I never forgot where I came from and who put me on top - God and Jack The Rapper.
Quotations by James Brown that are soulful and innovative
I had to tell about my colonic, which expresses the fact why I'm so neat today as opposed to a few years ago. I never knew that the weight made that much difference.
I've outdone anyone you can name -- Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss.
Irving Berlin, he wrote 1,001 tunes. I wrote 5,500.
You can take care of yourself, and God helps those who help themselves.
When you touch me, good God.
You're like a dull knife, just ain't cuttin', just talkin' loud and saying nothing
I'm not going to be joining ZZ Top. You know they can't play my stuff. It's too complicated.
Some like them fat, some like them tall, some like them short, skinny legs and all. I like them all.
For goodness sake, look at those cakes.
I'd rather be Jack be smart, than Jack be quick. Watch out for the man with the big fat licking stick.
Take those kids and raise them up, teach them how to drink out of a righteous cup.
The hardest thing about being James Brown is I have to live. I don't have no down time.
I'm twice as old, but I feel good.
I used to play one job and have 125 pair of shoes on the floor. What was I doing? I couldn't wear but one pair.
The white horse of heroin will ride you to hell.
My son don't have to say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud. He don't have to be called those crazy names.
Papa didn't cuss, he didn't raise a whole lot of fuss. But when we did wrong, Papa beat the hell out of us.
I think the best thing about being James Brown is looking at my little son. Hopefully I can make my son a role model to a lot of people.
Everybody over there, get on up. Everybody out there, get into it. Everybody right there, get involved.
When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy.
When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don't go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it.
I've got soul and I'm super bad.
This is a revolution of the mind, get your mind together and get away from drugs.
I don't really care what people think, ... I just do my own thing. ... I like being loud and letting people know I'm there.
What everybody's looking for today, they're looking for escape-ism.
You're like a dull knife, it just ain't cutting.
It's a Man's Man's Man's World
Get on up, stay on the scene, get on up, like a sex machine.
As I always said, if people wanted to know who James Brown is, all they have to do is listen to my music.
Retire for what? What would I do? I made my name as a person that is helping. I'm like Moses in the music business.
Sometimes, you like to let the hair do the talking!
If you don't get it the first time, back up and try it again.
Money won't change you, but time will take you out.
You can't teach others if you are living the same way.