A genius is the one most like himself.

When I was a kid, some of the guys would try to get me to hate white people for what they've been doing to Negroes, and for a while I tried real hard. But every time I got to hating them, some white guy would come along and mess the whole thing up.

I played the wrong wrong notes.

Those who want to know what sound goes into my music should come to NY and open their ears.

I don't know where jazz is going. Maybe it's going to hell. You can't make anything go anywhere. It just happens.

Just because you're not a drummer doesn't mean you don't have to keep time.

I have to listen to New York; I live there. I wasn't born there, but I've been living there all my life.