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Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons Quotes

Business person

Born on October 4, 1957, Russell Simmons is a distinguished businessperson known for his success in the music, fashion, and entertainment industries. He co-founded Def Jam Recordings, which became a pioneering label in hip-hop music. Simmons has also made significant contributions to philanthropy, establishing the non-profit organization 'Hip-Hop Summit Action Network' to promote community awareness and drive social change. He is widely regarded as a key figure in the advancement of hip-hop culture.

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Famous Russell Simmons Quotes

“Culture in America and everywhere else comes from the suffering, from those who don't want the old ways. They want to bring in the new, whether it's the ballet, when it started, or Shakespeare.”

Way Want America Suffering Culture Ballet Old Ways

Author:Russell Simmons

“The most aggressive views governing this country speak a lot about inclusion. We still have some people in this country who don't really get that we all have the same agenda, aspirations, hopes, and fears. I want people to be free and to be able to express themselves, to find the best ways to say things so that people can digest them.”

People Way Want Stills Country Able Speak Views Best Way Aspiration Agendas Aggressive Inclusion Governing Hopes And Fears

Author:Russell Simmons

“I just try to, in my own way, contribute to making a better Hollywood, to move Hollywood to be a leader in social justice, as it always has been, and not to have any holes in their own backyard while they continue to push for equality and all the things that they always stand up for.”

Way Trying Has Beens Moving Social Justice My Own Leader Hollywood Social Justice Holes Backyards

Author:Russell Simmons

“The best way to protect both the policemen and the community going forward is by creating a system that's just, where everyone feels safe.”

Way Feels Community Protect Safe Creating Best Way Policemen

Author:Russell Simmons

“I don't like to say, Oh, this is my favorite record because there was a moment that that record made me feel a certain way. The one on the radio at the present moment could be the one that's most inspiring, because it's at that second that you're aware of "the infinite everything."”

Way Feels Made Moments Certain Records Infinite My Favorite Radio Present Moment Most Inspiring

Author:Russell Simmons

“I want to talk a little bit abut two things: clarity and cloudiness. Both of them quiet the mind. One quiets it, the other numbs it. either way, there's less thought, and the less thought, the more happiness.”

Way Want Mind Littles Two Bits Quiet Little Bit Clarity Two Things

Author:Russell Simmons

“Most artists are making as much money now as they could have made... in the heyday of Def Jam [when the] Beastie Boys would sell 10 million records or DMX would sell 6 or 7 million records. Those records are one thing, but then all the other ways to exploit the emotional relationship between artist and community is so much greater that I would guess that they're making as much or more money than they could have ever made.”

Way Made Artist Community Boys Millions Records Greater One Thing Emotional Sells More Money Exploits Jam Heyday Emotional Relationship

Author:Russell Simmons

“I don't miss a day of yoga. I don't miss my meditation... They're way more important.”

Way Important Meditation Missing Yoga

Author:Russell Simmons

“Art allows people a way to dream their way out of their struggle.”

People Way Art Dream Struggle

Author:Russell Simmons

“Art is a way to express yourself and through that you can escape a bad situation.”

Way Art Situation Art Is Express Yourself Bad Situations

Author:Russell Simmons

“I want to promote poetry to the point where you got all the baldhead kids running around doing poetry, getting the music out of the way and having only words, the spoken word, and then see what happens.”

Way Want Happens Running Kids Spoken Word

Author:Russell Simmons

“My experiences have been, from the very beginning, cultural and creative. And my business has been a way of exposing the culture, exposing the artists so that the world could hear and see them.”

World Way Has Beens Artist Culture Creative Exposing

Author:Russell Simmons

“I don't believe that people create their own visions. Rather, I believe that visions are actually God's way of communicating with us.”

People Way Inspirational Believe I Believe Vision Don't Believe Communicate

Book:Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Source: Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

“Whatever obstacles appear in your path, put your head down and get past them. Those obstacles aren't real. They're just God's way of testing you. He's asking you, 'Do you want to make it or not?'”

Way Want Real God Past Path Military Tests Overcoming Asking Down And Entrepreneur Obstacles African American Encouraging Testing

Book:Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Source: Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

“It is only through opening your hearts will you be able to see that by promoting freedom for all, you are unchaining yourself. I guess I'm an optimist. I have faith in people and our government ultimately to do the right thing. And to my brothers and sisters in California, I'm there with you every step of the way until that day comes...”

People Way Heart Government Able Steps Brother Gay Opening California Right Thing My Brother Have Faith Optimist Brothers And Sisters Promoting Gay Marriage Every Step Open Your Heart

Author:Russell Simmons

“My wife Kimora once told me while we were watching "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" that it's a vegetarian movie because the way that the woman was screaming, "Aaaahhh," and trying to run away is how every animal you eat reacted at the slaughterhouse.”

Way Trying Running Animal Wife My Wife Vegetarian Texas Vegan Running Away Massacres Slaughterhouses Chainsaw Texas Chainsaw

Author:Russell Simmons

“You know, sometimes people never get to learn how successful they could have been because they give up too easily. If I've learned one thing in all my years in the business, it's that often things don't work out the way you want at first. But that doesn't mean you should give up.”

People Ifs Knows Way Want Giving Should Years Firsts Mean Has Beens Sometimes Success Business Successful One Thing Giving Up Work Out I've Learned Could Have Been

Author:Russell Simmons

About the Author

Born: October 4, 1957
Known for: Business person
Quotes: 289

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Books & Sources

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and SuccessRelated source material

Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made SimpleRelated source material

Super Rich: A Guide to Having It AllRelated source material

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