Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can plan weird; that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.

I never heard my music played the way I heard it in my head.

I am Charles Mingus, half black man, not even white enough to pass for nothing but black. I am Charles Mingus, a famed jazzman, but not famed enough to make a living in this society.

I'm trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it's difficult is because I'm changing all the time.

My music is evidence of my souls will to live.

If Charlie Parker were a Gunslinger, There'd be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats

Jazz music is a language of the emotions.

Making the complicated simple is true creativity.

Bach is how buildings got taller. It's how we got to the moon.

They're singing your praises while stealing your phrases.

Many people who have lost jobs . . . find that this was God’s way of redirecting their lives.

Laughter from yesterday that makes the heart giggle today brightens the perspective for tomorrow.

As far as beauty is concerned in order to be confident we must accept that the way we look and feel is our own responsibility.

I wanted to have money I wanted to be special I wanted people to like me I wanted to be famous.

There is a lot more to me than just walking guys down. I have speed, I have power, I have a crazy uppercut, I can move to the side. There are a lot of ways I can get it done.

It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me Admittedly I probably did it subliminally for you

Mathematics is the only good metaphysics.

That's gotta be the one remaining constant - jeans have gotta be tight, baby.

I don't think we should ever regret anything we do. I think we have to accept the consequences and you learn from your mistakes, and that's how you grow as a person

To believe in a universe as young as 6 or 7,000 years old is to extinguish the light from most of the galaxy.