48+ Thelonious Monk Quotes On Religion, Death And Monk

Thelonious Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was a highly influential figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. His unique improvisational style and unorthodox approach to harmony and rhythm made him one of the most important figures in jazz history. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Thelonious Monk on love, religion, leadership.

Top 10 Thelonious Monk Quotes

1. I say, play your own way. Don't play what the public want - you play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doing - even if it does take them fifteen, twenty years.
2. The loudest noise in the world is silence.
3. Trying to explain music is like trying to dance architecture.
4. Jazz is freedom. You think about that.
5. Jazz is my adventure. I'm after new chords, new ways of syncopating, new figures, new runs. How to use notes differently. That's it. Just using notes differently.
6. Just because you're not a drummer doesn't mean you don't have to keep time.
7. A note can be as small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.
8. I don't have a definition of Jazz. You're just supposed to know it when you hear it.
9. A genius is the one most like himself.
10. I can shoot pool, and I can play ping-pong. I'm pretty good at those games.

Thelonious Monk Short Quotes

• I don't know what other people are doing - I just know about me.
• The piano ain't got no wrong notes.
• The inside of the tune [the bridge] is the part that makes the outside sound good.
• Anybody talented in any way - they're called eccentric.
• I always believed in being myself.
• Everyone is a genius at being themselves
• I'd go stupid collecting and counting my money.
• I guess, you know, if I didn't make it with the piano, I guess I would've been the biggest bum.
• I didn't know there were 2 ten o'clocks in a day.
• Man, that cat [Ornette Coleman] is nuts.

Thelonious Monk Quotes About Jazz

When I was a kid, some of the guys would try to get me to hate white people for what they've been doing to Negroes, and for a while I tried real hard. But every time I got to hating them, some white guy would come along and mess the whole thing up. — Thelonious Monk

After two takes you're imitating yourself. — Thelonious Monk

I don't know where jazz is going. Maybe it's going to hell. You can't make anything go anywhere. It just happens. — Thelonious Monk

Jazz is my adventure. — Thelonious Monk

Everybody in all countries tries to play jazz. — Thelonious Monk

I find my inspiration in myself. — Thelonious Monk

If you really understand the meaning of be-bop, you understand the meaning of freedom. — Thelonious Monk

Miles'd got killed if he hit me. — Thelonious Monk

Those who want to know what sound goes into my music should come to NY and open their ears. — Thelonious Monk

I compose my pieces with a formula that I created myself. — Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk Quotes About Play

I was playing birthday parties. House-rent parties where they used to sell whisky during prohibition. — Thelonious Monk

Don't play everything (or every time); let some things go by... What you don't play can be more important than what you do. — Thelonious Monk

I played the wrong wrong notes. — Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk Quotes About Musicians

All musicians are subconsciously mathematicians. — Thelonious Monk

All musicians are potential band leaders. — Thelonious Monk

The majority of juice-heads and winos and junkies arent musicians. — Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk Famous Quotes And Sayings

I never though much about race. — Thelonious Monk

Be-bop wasn't developed in any deliberate way. — Thelonious Monk

Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy — Thelonious Monk

We have two kids, my wife and myself. — Thelonious Monk

I have to listen to New York; I live there. I wasn't born there, but I've been living there all my life. — Thelonious Monk

I made the wrong mistakes — Thelonious Monk

The only cats worth anything are the cats that take chances. — Thelonious Monk

It's always night, or we wouldn't need light. — Thelonious Monk

Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along and do it. A genius is the one most like himself. — Thelonious Monk

There are no wrong notes; some are just more right than others. — Thelonious Monk

It can't be any new note. When you look at the keyboard, all the notes are there already. But if you mean a note enough, it will sound different. You got to pick the notes you really mean! — Thelonious Monk

Everyone is influenced by everybody but you bring it down home the way you feel it. — Thelonious Monk

Life Lessons by Thelonious Monk

1. Thelonious Monk taught us the importance of being creative and taking risks with our music. He showed us that it's okay to be different and to explore new sounds and ideas.
2. He also showed us the power of practice and dedication, as he worked hard to perfect his craft and develop his unique style.
3. Finally, Monk demonstrated the value of perseverance and resilience, as he continued to make music despite criticism and setbacks.