Duke Ellington

"Composition is not just for the talented, it's for the dedicated."

"A person should have control of their own immortality."

"Never waste a good mistake - learn from it."

"The biggest problem in music is that it's too difficult."

"Jazz is American, it was born from American conditions."

"I think of myself as having been very fortunate."

"I've enjoyed the company of some wonderful people, and I would like to continue on that path."

"Cats can't be fenced in."

"The instrument that matters most to me is the piano."

"There's a natural law of karma that vindicated people in the end."

"The most important thing I like about time is that it's mine."

"I like the idea of fantasy because it's not held back by what's real."

"All art comes from a very real place within you."

"Trust in life, always."

"You can't make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it's a choice."

"I'm living the life I've dreamed about since I was a boy."

"A person is never too old to learn."

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious."

"I would like to die on the stage."

"There are two rules: never feel guilty and never apologize."

"The beauty of music is that you can enjoy it with your whole self."

"I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine."

"Do what you have to do, to do what you want to do."

"Music is a universal language that needs no translation."

"Every day I'm learning something new about life."

"The path I've taken has been extraordinary."

"I appreciate all the help I've had to get here."

"If it feels right, it's right."

"Life is sweeter when you share it with others."

"I want to try everything at least once."