The Best Louis Armstrong quotes

The first time I heard Jack Teagarden on the trombone, I had goose pimples all over. — Louis Armstrong

The first time I left NewOrleans I went to St Louis with Fate’s band on the boat and to my surprise–we were the first colored band to play with the Streckfus Steamers. — Louis Armstrong

When I go to the Gate, I’ll play a duet with Gabriel. Yeah, we’ll play ‘Sleepy Time Down South’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!.’ Then he can blow a couple that he’s been playing up there all the time. — Louis Armstrong

Every time I close my eyes blowing that trumpet of mine, I look right into the heart of good old New Orleans. It has given me something to live for. — Louis Armstrong

When you’re dead, you’re done. — Louis Armstrong

What we play is life. — Louis Armstrong

There is two kinds of music, the good, and the bad. I play the good kind. — Louis Armstrong

Bebop is] Chinese music. — Louis Armstrong

Each man has his own music bubbling up inside him. — Louis Armstrong

Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music? No matter what kind it is. — Louis Armstrong

Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them. — Louis Armstrong

Music is either good or bad, and it’s got to be learned. You got to have balance. — Louis Armstrong

All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song. — Louis Armstrong

There’s only two ways to sum up music; either it’s good or it’s bad. If it’s good you don’t mess about it, you just enjoy it. — Louis Armstrong

Cat?’ ‘Cat’ can be anybody from the guy in the gutter to a lawyer, doctor, the biggest man to the lowest man, but if he’s in there with a good heart and enjoy the same music together, he’s a cat. — Louis Armstrong

It’s America’s classical music … this becomes our tradition … the bottom line of any country in the world is what did we contribute to the world? … we contributed Louis Armstrong — Louis Armstrong

You will never know what the meaning of Jazz is if ask what it means. — Louis Armstrong

What is Jazz? Dude, if you have to ask, you’ll never know. — Louis Armstrong

To jazz, or not to jazz, there is no question! — Louis Armstrong

Jazz is what I play for a living. — Louis Armstrong

There are Two Secrets to Success: 1. Don’t tell ANYONE Everything you know 2.If you have to ask what Jazz is, you’ll never know. — Louis Armstrong

The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. — Louis Armstrong

If it hadn’t been for Jazz, there wouldn’t be no rock and roll. — Louis Armstrong

The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. Things like old folks singing in the moonlight in the back yard on a hot night or something said long ago. — Louis Armstrong

When I pick up that horn. . .the world’s behind me, and I don’t concentrate. — Louis Armstrong

I was determined to play my horn against all odds, and I had to sacrifice a whole lot of pleasure to do so. — Louis Armstrong

I don’t get involved in politics. I just blow my horn. — Louis Armstrong

You either have it or you don’t. You play your horn just like you sing a song or a hymn. If it’s in your heart, you express yourself in the tune. — Louis Armstrong

Even If I have two three days off, you still have to blow that horn. You have to keep up those chops… I have to warm up everyday for at least an hour. — Louis Armstrong

My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn. — Louis Armstrong

There is no such thing as ‘on the way out’ as long as you are still doing something interesting and good; you’re in the business because you’re breathing. — Louis Armstrong

I don’t let my mouth say nothin’ my head can’t stand. — Louis Armstrong

There are some people that if they don’t know, you can’t tell ’em. — Louis Armstrong

When you’re with another tea smoker it makes you feel a special kinship. — Louis Armstrong

It ain’t whatcha say, it’s the way howcha say it. — Louis Armstrong

We all go Do, Re, Mi, but you’ve gotta find all the other notes yourself. — Louis Armstrong

I’ve gone on with bad colds, high temperatures and bruised chops. Sometimes you have to play when your lips are so tender, you feel there’s pins in them. — Louis Armstrong

The best I can do is stay happy. — Louis Armstrong

It makes you feel good, man, makes you forget all the bad things that happen to a Negro. It makes you feel wanted, and when you’re with another tea smoker, it makes you feel a special kinship. — Louis Armstrong

I never want to be anything more than I am; what I don’t have, I don’t need. — Louis Armstrong

Not too slow, not too fast. Kind of like half–fast. — Louis Armstrong

You’ve got to be good or as bad as the devil. — Louis Armstrong

I had a chance to play with the best musicians that were coming through because I was pretty good myself or else they wouldn’t have tolerated with me. — Louis Armstrong

Never play a thing the same way twice. — Louis Armstrong