Attitude Quote by August Wilson
“Jazz in itself is not struggling. That is, the music itself is not struggling... It's the attitude that's in trouble. My plays insist that we should not forget or toss away our history.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Jitney, 1982
Jazz is about effortless flow; struggle comes from the mindset, not the music itself.
In simple terms: Music is smooth; attitude can be troubled.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate a relaxed mindset when creating.
Themes
music
attitude
history
creativity
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Improvisational performance
- teaching music
- personal reflection
- overcoming creative blocks
Key Concepts
Jazz philosophy
mindset
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your mindset affect your creative output?
- What history do you carry into your art?
A Different Perspective
If the attitude stays negative, the music may still feel strained.
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
![“I'm often asked, "What is your favorite moment during the 30 years you hosted [The Tonight Show]?" I really don't have just one. The times I enjoyed the most were the spontaneous, unplanned segments that just happened, like Ed Ames' infamous "Tomahawk Toss" that produced one of the longest laughs…” quote by Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5e3/johnny-carson-2644_enjoy_i-m-often-asked-what-is-your-favorite-mo_40090.jpg)
