Inspirational Quotes by Thelonious Monk

Everyone is influenced by everybody but you bring it down home the way you feel it.

— Thelonious Monk

Jazz is freedom. You think about that.

— Thelonious Monk

I made the wrong mistakes

— Thelonious Monk

I have to listen to New York; I live there. I wasn't born there, but I've been living there all my life.

— Thelonious Monk

I always believed in being myself.

— Thelonious Monk

I didn't know there were 2 ten o'clocks in a day...

— Thelonious Monk

There are no wrong notes; some are just more right than others.

— Thelonious Monk

I find my inspiration in myself.

— Thelonious Monk

Just because you're not a drummer doesn't mean you don't have to keep time.

— Thelonious Monk

After two takes you're imitating yourself.

— Thelonious Monk

The inside of the tune [the bridge] is the part that makes the outside sound good.

— Thelonious Monk

Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along and do it. A genius is the one most like himself.

— Thelonious Monk

Miles'd got killed if he hit me.

— Thelonious Monk

I don't have a definition of Jazz. You're just supposed to know it when you hear it.

— Thelonious Monk

The loudest noise in the world is silence.

— Thelonious Monk

If you really understand the meaning of be-bop, you understand the meaning of freedom.

— Thelonious Monk

I compose my pieces with a formula that I created myself.

— Thelonious Monk