73 Quotes by Thelonious Monk

I say, play your own way. Don’t play what the public want – you play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doing – even if it does take them fifteen, twenty years.

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

The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.

Everyone is a genius at being themselves.

I don’t have a definition of Jazz. You’re just supposed to know it when you hear it.

Sometimes it’s to your advantage for people to think you’re crazy.

I don’t know what other people are doing – I just know about me.

It can’t be any new note. When you look at the keyboard, all the notes are there already. But if you mean a note enough, it will sound different. You got to pick the notes you really mean!

After two takes you’re imitating yourself.