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Nina Simone

Nina Simone Quotes

Singer

Nina Simone, born Eunice Waymon, was an American jazz, blues, and soul singer, pianist, and civil rights activist. Known for her distinctive voice and musical style, as well as her commitment to social issues, Simone's musical career spanned over half a century. Her works include 'Feeling Good', 'My Baby Just Cried Her Last Tear', and 'I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl'.

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Famous Nina Simone Quotes

“I'm sorry that I did not become the world's first black classic pianist. I think I would have been happier.”

Thinking World Firsts Has Beens Black Sorry Classic I'm Sorry Pianist

Author:Nina Simone

“I know I'm different, but I don't think about it.”

Thinking Knows Different

Author:Nina Simone

“It is difficult to retain your standards with the pressure of trying to make money, which always has its rules...It's hard to walk the tightrope of doing what you think is your best and making money at it.”

Thinking Trying Hard Difficult Walks Standards Pressure Making Money

Author:Nina Simone

“As far as piano players are concerned, Oscar Peterson is my very favorite. I also like McCoy Tyner. I think that the big jazz stars, both now and in the past...how shall I say it? These guys are as great as Bach, Beethoven; all of them. People don't know it yet. If jazz survives and is put on a pedestal as an art form, the same as classical music has been through the years, a hundred years from now the kids will know who they were, with that kind of respect.”

People Ifs Thinking Knows Years Kind Has Beens Art Bigs Kids Past Form Guy Stars Player Hundred Concerned Jazz Piano Oscars Classical Music Pedestal Through The Years

Author:Nina Simone

“The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough.”

Thinking Feels Kind Self Enough Hurt Doubt Worst Prejudice Slavery Angry Good Enough Worst Things Not Good Enough Self-doubt

Author:Nina Simone

“Greed has driven the world crazy. And I think I'm lucky that I have a place over here that I can call home.”

Thinking World I Can Home Crazy Lucky Madness Greed Driven

Author:Nina Simone

“I think the rich will eventually have to cave in too, because the economic situation around the world is not gonna tolerate the United States being on top forever.”

Thinking World States United Situation United States Forever Rich Economic Around The World Tolerate Caves Vaccines

Author:Nina Simone

“Jazz is not just music, it's a way of life, it's a way of being, a way of thinking.”

Thinking Way Music Jazz Way Of Thinking

Author:Nina Simone

“Slavery has never been abolished from America's way of thinking.”

Thinking Way America Racism Slavery Way Of Thinking

Author:Nina Simone

“I don't like rap music at all. I don't think it's music. It's just a beat and rapping.”

Thinking Beats Hip Hop Rap Rap Music

Author:Nina Simone

“Jazz is not just music, it's a way of life, it's a way of being, a way of thinking. . . . the new inventive phrases we make up to describe things - all that to me is jazz just as much as the music we play.”

Thinking Way Play Music Jazz Phrases Way Of Thinking Jazz Music

Author:Nina Simone

“I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.”

Ifs Thinking Important Would Be America Protest

Author:Nina Simone

“I think the rich are too rich and the poor are too poor. I don't think the black people are going to rise at all; I think most of them are going to die.”

People Thinking Dies Black Poor Rich Black People

Author:Nina Simone

About the Author

Born: February 21, 1933
Died: April 21, 2003
Known for: Singer
Quotes: 109

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina SimoneRelated source material

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