--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes the black keys and the white…" description: "\"“It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.” - Benny Goodman, The King of Swing reply to when he was asked as to why he ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png" --- # It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make… ![“It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.” - Benny Goodman, The King of Swing reply to when he was asked as to why he had an integrated band” quote by Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png) > ““It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.” - Benny Goodman, The King of Swing reply to when he was asked as to why he had an integrated band”” [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Harmony requires inclusion of diverse elements to achieve completeness. **In simple terms:** Diverse parts create harmony. Key Takeaway Embrace diversity for better outcomes. Themes inclusion music collaboration Mood inspired reflective Type historical musical When to use this quote - band formation - musical composition - social activism Key Concepts Jazz history social integration Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster inclusion in your team? - What benefits arise from diverse perspectives? A Different Perspective May overlook individual contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Perfect harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-harmony/) ## Related quotes > [It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-keys-both-to-make-perfect/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [“She (Tamara Thorne) has this fascinating way of wrapping herself around the things I write and bringing out the best in my writing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cross/she-tamara-thorne-has-this-fascinating-way-of-wrapping-herself-around/) [Alistair Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cross/) > [As Eastern thought has begun to interest a significant number of people, and meditation is no longer viewed with ridicule or suspicion, mysticism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/as-eastern-thought-has-begun-to-interest-a-significant-number-of/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [“Existence is mathematical music, and all of us are the instruments playing the cosmic symphony. Our task is simple - to arrive not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madison/existence-is-mathematical-music-and-all-of-us-are-the-instruments/) Steve Madison > [Beauty is in the ideal of perfect harmony which is in the universal being; truth the perfect comprehension of the universal mind. We individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/beauty-is-in-the-ideal-of-perfect-harmony-which-is-in-the-universal/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Ballroom is two people dancing together to music, touching in perfect harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/ballroom-is-two-people-dancing-together-to-music-touching-in-perfect/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/happiness-is-not-a-matter-of-intensity-but-of-balance-and-order-and/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“And above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all in perfect harmony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colossians-3-14/and-above-all-clothe-yourself-with-love-which-binds-us-all-in-perfect/) Colossians 3 14 > [The union of opposites, in so far as they are really complementary, always results in the most perfect harmony; and the seemingly incongruous is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/the-union-of-opposites-in-so-far-as-they-are-really-complementary/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [It is said that a hundred gamecocks will live in perfect harmony together it you do not put a hen with them; and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/it-is-said-that-a-hundred-gamecocks-will-live-in-perfect-harmony/) [Augustus Baldwin Longstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/) > [The doctrine of eternal punishment is in perfect harmony with the savagery of the men who made the orthodox creeds. It is in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-doctrine-of-eternal-punishment-is-in-perfect-harmony-with-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-seed-has-no-idea-of-being-some-particular-plant-but-it-has-its/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [ Above all else, \[Benny Goodman\] was a great player, one of the greatest American music has produced. He brought his absolute talent and his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-crouch/above-all-else-benny-goodman-was-a-great-player-one-of-the-greatest/) [Stanley Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-crouch/) > [Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/since-the-advent-of-benny-goodman-there-have-been-too-few/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-started-off-playing-the-clarinet-after-i-was-inspired-by-listening/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) ## More by Benny Goodman > [Some of the guys I played with .. didn't go around learning more about their instruments from an intellectual point of view. All they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/some-of-the-guys-i-played-with-didn-t-go-around-learning-more-about/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [“A musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/a-musician-is-a-juggler-who-uses-harmonies-instead-of-oranges/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [As soon as it was understood that we could handle things in our own way, it was the thrill of my life to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/as-soon-as-it-was-understood-that-we-could-handle-things-in-our-own/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [That night at Carnegie Hall was a great experience. When the thing was first put up to me I was a little dubious, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/that-night-at-carnegie-hall-was-a-great-experience-when-the-thing-was/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [After you’ve done all the work and prepared as much as you can, what the hell, you might as well go out and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/after-you-ve-done-all-the-work-and-prepared-as-much-as-you-can-what/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [I think my first impression (of Bix Beiderbecke) was the lasting one. I remember very clearly thinking, 'Where, what planet, did this guy come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/i-think-my-first-impression-of-bix-beiderbecke-was-the-lasting-one-i/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [To this day, I don't like people walking on stage not looking good. You have to look good. If you feel special about yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/to-this-day-i-don-t-like-people-walking-on-stage-not-looking-good-you/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [I don't have any great love for Chicago. What the hell, a childhood around Douglas Park isn't very memorable. I remember the street fights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/i-don-t-have-any-great-love-for-chicago-what-the-hell-a-childhood/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [If a guy's got it, let him give it. I'm selling music, not prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/if-a-guy-s-got-it-let-him-give-it-i-m-selling-music-not-prejudice/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [If you want to do something, you do it anyway, and handle the obstacles as they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/if-you-want-to-do-something-you-do-it-anyway-and-handle-the-obstacles/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [When I first arrived (in New York), it seemed to me the most terrifying city in the world... all those big buildings. I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/when-i-first-arrived-in-new-york-it-seemed-to-me-the-most-terrifying/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [One way or the other, if you want to find reasons why you shouldn’t keep on, you’ll find ‘em. The obstacles are all there;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/one-way-or-the-other-if-you-want-to-find-reasons-why-you-shouldn-t/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [Sometimes when you start losing detail, whether it's in music or in life, something as small as failing to be polite, you start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/sometimes-when-you-start-losing-detail-whether-it-s-in-music-or-in/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [People have often said to me, 'You're so relaxed when you play.' Relaxed my elbow. It's practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/people-have-often-said-to-me-you-re-so-relaxed-when-you-play-relaxed/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/i-think-i-ve-done-a-lot-in-this-business-whether-through-screwball/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) [Explore all 23 Benny Goodman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) ## More Harmony quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [“Disharmony at home or work is toxic to a person’s physical disposition and mental health.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/disharmony-at-home-or-work-is-toxic-to-a-person-s-physical/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [What a strange power the perception of beauty is! It seems to ebb and flow like some secret tide, independent alike of health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/what-a-strange-power-the-perception-of-beauty-is-it-seems-to-ebb-and/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you long for peace, act in peace and harmony. If you want the world to change, start with the person in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-long-for-peace-act-in-peace-and-harmony-if-you-want-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The spirit of the West, of America, is different than the East. The cultural conditioning is very different. It seems to be harder for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-spirit-of-the-west-of-america-is-different-than-the-east-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Life is always great, when shared in a spirit of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-always-great-when-shared-in-a-spirit-of-love/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The peace of God is with them whose mind and soul are in harmony, who are free from desire and wrath, who know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-peace-of-god-is-with-them-whose-mind-and-soul-are-in-harmony-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every marriage is different, but the most important factor in a strong relationship is the love and harmony between the couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hema-malini/every-marriage-is-different-but-the-most-important-factor-in-a-strong/) [Hema Malini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hema-malini/) > [“We're supposed to strive for harmony, and that's what the art of tea is supposed to accomplish... but harmony is very, very difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koushun-takami/we-re-supposed-to-strive-for-harmony-and-that-s-what-the-art-of-tea/) [Koushun Takami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koushun-takami/) [Browse all 2,638 Harmony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.” - Benny Goodman, The King of Swing reply to when he was asked as to why he had an integrated band”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benny Goodman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-keys-both-to-make-perfect-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harmony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-keys-both-to-make-perfect-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/benny-goodman-25411_harmony_it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-ke_2633427.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.” - Benny Goodman, The King of…” — Benny Goodman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benny Goodman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It takes the black keys and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-keys-both-to-make-perfect-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/it-takes-the-black-keys-and-the-white-keys-both-to-make-perfect-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```