---
title: "2 Award Quotes By Wadada Leo Smith"
description: "2 Award quotes by Wadada Leo Smith. Plus more from Wadada Leo Smith and more Award sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b13/wadada-leo-smith-24902_affirmation_i-don-t-set-out-to-win-awards-i-don-t-th_2752340.jpg"
---

> [I don't set out to win awards. I don't think any musician does, but when you receive an award, it's an affirmation: it means that people appreciate what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-don-t-set-out-to-win-awards-i-don-t-think-any-musician-does-but/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b13/wadada-leo-smith-24902_affirmation_i-don-t-set-out-to-win-awards-i-don-t-th_2752340.jpg)

> [I don't set out to win awards. I don't think any musician does, but when you receive an award, it's an affirmation: it means that people appreciate what you do. Every award I have received is a confirmation of something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-don-t-set-out-to-win-awards-i-don-t-think-any-musician-does-but-2/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/wadada-leo-smith-24902_award_i-don-t-set-out-to-win-awards-i-don-t-th_2829749.jpg)

## Other authors on Award

## More by Wadada Leo Smith

> [I have been in dialogue with my family about what can actually be done. We've come up with this philosophy that in a truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-have-been-in-dialogue-with-my-family-about-what-can-actually-be/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [Jazz infers a style, but creative music has a wider field and wider specification about it. We know it from people like Scott Joplin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/jazz-infers-a-style-but-creative-music-has-a-wider-field-and-wider/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [I write all the time. I always have. I can pick up my horn to warm up, and an idea will pop into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-write-all-the-time-i-always-have-i-can-pick-up-my-horn-to-warm-up/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [I've got that Beethoven energy, that Stravinsky energy. And it's all a gift from the Creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-ve-got-that-beethoven-energy-that-stravinsky-energy-and-it-s-all-a/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [The only thing that makes change possible is the idea of developing some kind of institution, because the institutions will survive individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/the-only-thing-that-makes-change-possible-is-the-idea-of-developing/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [Everything and anything is valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/everything-and-anything-is-valuable/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [My solo playing utilizes the deployment of suggestive psychic rhythms. I'll state these throughout a given piece and play thematic improvisations on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/my-solo-playing-utilizes-the-deployment-of-suggestive-psychic-rhythms/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [I'm an optimist. I have always been, and I will continue to be. So I believe there's always a possibility of transforming or changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-m-an-optimist-i-have-always-been-and-i-will-continue-to-be-so-i/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [When you live in the South, you're constantly part of the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/when-you-live-in-the-south-you-re-constantly-part-of-the-civil-rights/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [There's nothing unnatural in creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/there-s-nothing-unnatural-in-creation/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [From now back to the past, we can observe clearly that none of us is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/from-now-back-to-the-past-we-can-observe-clearly-that-none-of-us-is/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [The artist is the consciousness of society... but musicians' role is very special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/the-artist-is-the-consciousness-of-society-but-musicians-role-is-very/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [I always felt of myself as a composer, performer, improviser. I've never called myself a jazz man. I make art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-always-felt-of-myself-as-a-composer-performer-improviser-i-ve-never/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [I think all art is, by nature, intended to motivate society for change, and the only reason change doesn't happen is because within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-think-all-art-is-by-nature-intended-to-motivate-society-for-change/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [Seeing the bigger picture opens your eyes to what is the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/seeing-the-bigger-picture-opens-your-eyes-to-what-is-the-truth/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

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