By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.

Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.

Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.

New music? Hell, there's been no new music since Stravinsky.

I'm sure critics have their purpose, and they're supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what he did.

If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original.

Of the One O'Clock Lab Band after hearing their performance, and sitting in with them at the White House: "I wish it were mine".