Keep reading books, but remember that a book’s only a book, and you should learn to think for yourself.

Remembrance of the past kills all present energy and deadens all hope for the future

What 'jazz' means to me is the worst kind of working conditions, the worst in cultural prejudice. The term 'jazz' has come to mean the abuse and exploitation of black musicians.

What I'd like is to meet a man I could take off my hat to and say: "Thank you for having got born, and the longer you live the better.

But I'm not to be caught with such poor bait! I'm a big fish, I am.

One has to be able to count if only so that at fifty one doesn't marry a girl of twenty.

Jail doesn't teach anyone to do good, nor Siberia, but a man-yes! A man can teach another man to do good-believe me!