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I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline!

Duke Ellington

Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Creation Instinct Past Thinking
There is no art when one does something without intention.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Art Intention
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Meaning Yourself
Gray skies are just clouds passing over.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Cloud Pass Sky
You’ve got to find a way of saying it without saying it.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Finding Silence Way Yourself
The Europeans who went to Africa came back with “modern’ art. What is more African than a Picasso?
DUKE ELLINGTON

Art Creativity Modern
Everyone prays in their own language, and there is no language that God does not understand.
DUKE ELLINGTON

God Language Prayer Understand
I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Blue Energy Myself Writing
It is becoming increasingly difficult to decide where jazz starts or where it stops, where Tin Pan Alley begins and jazz ends, or even where the borderline lies between between classical music and jazz. I feel there is no boundary line
DUKE ELLINGTON

Beginning Boundary Classical Decision Difficult Lying
There are 2 rules in life: Number 1- Never quit. Number2- Never forget rule number 1.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Forget Inspirational Life Rule
Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Loud Myself Open
The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Himself Important Known Listening Musician
If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good!
DUKE ELLINGTON

Feeling Music Sound
People do not retire. They are retired by others.
DUKE ELLINGTON

People Retirement
Sing sweet, but put a little dirt in it.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Music Sing Song Sweet
Selfishness can be a virtue. Selfishness is essential to survival, and without survival we cannot protect those whom we love more than ourselves.
DUKE ELLINGTON

Ourselves Selfish Survive Virtue

I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline!

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I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline!

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