The Best John Coltrane quotes

Jazz is a word they use to sell our music, but to me that word does not exist. — John Coltrane

My music is the spiritual expression of what I am: my faith, my knowledge, my being. — John Coltrane

Sometimes I wish I could walk up to my music for the first time, as if I had never heard it before. — John Coltrane

When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang–ups. — John Coltrane

I think that music, being an expression of the human heart, or of the human being itself, does express just what is happening–the whole of human experience at the particular time that it is being expressed. — John Coltrane

Sometimes I think I was making music through the wrong end of a magnifying glass. — John Coltrane

I think I was first awakened to musical exploration by Dizzy Gillespie and Bird. It was through their work that I began to learn about musical structures and the more theoretical aspects of music. — John Coltrane

Change is inevitable in music–things change. — John Coltrane

I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of people. — John Coltrane

In the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening, which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. — John Coltrane

Whatever I’d say would be an understatement. I can only say my life was made much better by knowing him. He was one of the greatest people I’ve ever known, as a man, a friend, and a musician. — John Coltrane

My goal is to live the truly religious life and express it through my music. If you can live it, there’s no problem about the music, because it’s part of the whole thing. — John Coltrane

There are so many things to be considered in making music. The whole question of life itself… I know that I want to produce beautiful music, music that does things to people that they need. — John Coltrane

I’m into scales right now. — John Coltrane

I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows of and senses in the universe. — John Coltrane

The first time I heard Bird play, it hit me right between the eyes. — John Coltrane

Starting in the middle of a musical sentence and moving in both directions at once. — John Coltrane

If you’re bourgeois, money is it. It’s all the questions and all the answers. Ain’t no E–flat or color blue, only $12.98 or $1,000. If it isn’t money, it isn’t nothing. — John Coltrane

Thankfully now, through the merciful hand of God, I do perceive and have been fully reinformed of his omnipotence. It is truly a love supreme. — John Coltrane

Damn the rules, it’s the feeling that counts. — John Coltrane

You can play a shoestring if you’re sincere. — John Coltrane

Any time you play your horn, it helps you. If you get down, you can help yourself even in a rock ‘n’ roll band. — John Coltrane

I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once. — John Coltrane

I’ve been devoting quite a bit of my time to harmonic studies on my own, in libraries and places like that. I’ve found you’ve got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light. — John Coltrane

I find it’s only when something is trying to come through I really practice. And then, I don’t know how many hours. It’s all day. — John Coltrane

Don’t ever get so big or important that you can not hear and listen to every other person. — John Coltrane

Keep a thing happenin’ all throughout. — John Coltrane