You blows who you is.

Don't do nothing halfway, else you find yourself dropping more than can be picked up.

When I was young and very green, I worte that tune, Sister Kate, and someone said that's fine, let me publish it for you. I'll give you fifty dollars. I didn't know nothing about papers, and business, and I sold it outright.

I've Got the World on a String.

A lot of the musicians asked me if when I hit my high-Cs on the records I had a clarinet take the notes. Some [thought] I had invented some kind of gadget so I could play high register. They weren't satisfied until they handed me a trumpet that they had with them and had me swing it. Then they cheered.

Music is either good or bad, and it's got to be learned. You got to have balance.

When you're dead, you're done.