“Water from the white fountain didn’t taste any better than from the black fountain.”

Religion began as a natural explanation of the universe. The problem started when people refused to accept new evidence.

If you want to be a good blues singer, people are going to be down on you, so dress like you’re going to the bank to borrow money.

A lot of people believe what other people say.

When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille.

There’s a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There’s also happiness to it if you want to hear it.

You only live but once, and when your died your done, so let the good times roll.

I tried to connect my singing voice to my guitar an’ my guitar to my singing voice. Like the two was talking to one another.

I’ve always liked ladies all my life. I guess it started with my mom. So every time I saw a pretty lady, I thought, she’s pretty.

It’s going to be years and years before most people realize how greatly he contributed to American music.

When I was young, I didn’t play like I do today. So these kids are starting at the height that I’ve reached. Think what they might do over time.

I don’t like to feel that I owe anything. I like to feel that I pay my own way, no free lunch.

When I do eventually drop, I pray to God that it will happen in one of three ways. Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage, then secondly in my sleep. And the third way? You’ll have to figure that out for yourself!

I guess you can look at me, and tell I’m the old man. My name is BB King.

I’ve said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed.

The crowds treat me like my last name. When I go onstage people usually stand up, I never ask them to, but they do. They stand up and they don’t know how much I appreciate it.

I wanted to connect my guitar to human emotions.

When one of us shines, all of us shine.

I don’t stand for black man’s side, I don’t stand for white man’s side, I stand for God’s side.

A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isn’t there.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not solid. I’m hollow. There’s nothing behind my eyes. I’m a negative of a person. All I want is blackness, blackness and silence.

Our freedom is threatened every time one of our young people is killed by another child, every time a person gets stopped and beaten by the police because of the color of their skin.

Once we realize we are all members of humanity, we will want to compete in the spirit of love.

When you fight to honor racists, you show black Tennesseans and all of their allies where you stand, and you continue this cycle of hurt. You can’t change history, but you can change this.

We need to show the world that Black lives not only matter, but are valued, loved, supported, and celebrated.