--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Create, and be true to yourself, and…" description: "\"Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.\" — Duke Ellington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg" --- # Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your… ![“Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.” quote by Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg) > “Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.” [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes authenticity and trusting personal aesthetic over external approval. **In simple terms:** Be authentic and trust your own taste. Key Takeaway Rely on your own judgment. Themes authenticity self‑reliance creativity Mood reflective confident Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - fashion design - writing - music composition - personal branding Key Concepts personal taste artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish personal taste from trends? - When is external critique useful? A Different Perspective May ignore valuable external feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be true to yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-true-to-yourself/) [Being true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Create True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-true-2799813/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Depend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depend/) [Depend Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depend-good-467699/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Good taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-taste/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste/) [True Depend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-depend-5869204/) [True to yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-to-yourself/) ## Related quotes > [I depend on good editors and a good director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-varma/i-depend-on-good-editors-and-a-good-director/) [Indira Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-varma/) > [I want to be a writer you can always depend on for a good read during your vacation, during your flight, during a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-abbott/i-want-to-be-a-writer-you-can-always-depend-on-for-a-good-read-during/) [Jeff Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-abbott/) > [“to create true equality of opportunity,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-tirole/to-create-true-equality-of-opportunity/) [Jean Tirole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-tirole/) > [Where I create, there I am true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/where-i-create-there-i-am-true/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [My grandmother used to babysit us when I was younger, and would always play old-school music. It gets to me. Grandma had some good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-green/my-grandmother-used-to-babysit-us-when-i-was-younger-and-would-always/) [Virgil Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-green/) > [Simplicity, good taste and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing and these do not cost money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/simplicity-good-taste-and-grooming-are-the-three-fundamentals-of-good/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [Good taste is synonymous with success in all fields of life. It's not a question of money, but of a trained eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-baldrige/good-taste-is-synonymous-with-success-in-all-fields-of-life-it-s-not/) [Letitia Baldrige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-baldrige/) > [The kind of people who always go on about whether a thing is in good taste invariably have very bad taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-orton/the-kind-of-people-who-always-go-on-about-whether-a-thing-is-in-good/) [Joe Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-orton/) > [Good taste comes more from the judgment than from the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/good-taste-comes-more-from-the-judgment-than-from-the-mind/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The male gay community seems to be very into female singers. I think it could be the songs we sing. They're more open with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/the-male-gay-community-seems-to-be-very-into-female-singers-i-think/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [I'm big on what's in good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-m-big-on-what-s-in-good-taste/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [Good taste cannot supply the place of genius in literature, for the best proof of taste, when there is no genius, would be, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-stael/good-taste-cannot-supply-the-place-of-genius-in-literature-for-the/) [Madame de Stael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-stael/) > [Fashion is here to help make people look very important. If they have good taste and choose what suits them, I give them options…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/fashion-is-here-to-help-make-people-look-very-important-if-they-have/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/good-taste-is-better-than-bad-taste-but-bad-taste-is-better-than-no/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Good taste ruins certain true spiritual values: such as taste itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/good-taste-ruins-certain-true-spiritual-values-such-as-taste-itself/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) ## More by Duke Ellington > [New music? Hell, there's been no new music since Stravinsky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/new-music-hell-there-s-been-no-new-music-since-stravinsky/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/jazz-today-as-always-in-the-past-is-a-matter-of-thoughtful-creation/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/the-most-important-thing-i-look-for-in-a-musician-is-whether-he-knows/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/music-is-my-mistress-and-she-plays-second-fiddle-to-no-one/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [The common root, of course, comes out of Africa. That's the pulse.The African pulse. It's all the way back from . . . the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/the-common-root-of-course-comes-out-of-africa-that-s-the-pulse-the/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/love-is-supreme-and-unconditional-like-is-nice-but-limited/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [The problem of expressing the contributions that Benny Carter has made to popular music is so tremendous it completely fazes me, so extraordinary a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/the-problem-of-expressing-the-contributions-that-benny-carter-has/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/if-anybody-was-mr-jazz-it-was-louis-armstrong-he-was-the-epitome-of/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/jazz-is-a-good-barometer-of-freedom/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/i-merely-took-the-energy-it-takes-to-pout-and-wrote-some-blues/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [The artist must say it without saying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/the-artist-must-say-it-without-saying-it/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Problems are chances for us to do our best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/problems-are-chances-for-us-to-do-our-best/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [“New York is a place where the rich walk, the poor drive Cadillac's, and the beggars die of malnutrition with thousands of dollars hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/new-york-is-a-place-where-the-rich-walk-the-poor-drive-cadillac-s-and/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Hurry, get on board, it's comin', listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard. Get on the "A" train, soon you will be on Sugar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/hurry-get-on-board-it-s-comin-listen-to-those-rails-a-thrumming-all/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Everybody in Canada seemed to listen to what they enjoyed, and nobody could tell them what to like, or what was the popular, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/everybody-in-canada-seemed-to-listen-to-what-they-enjoyed-and-nobody/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) [Explore all 90 Duke Ellington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) ## More Be true to yourself quotes > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be kind and true to your heart and your heart will be kind and true to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-kind-and-true-to-your-heart-and-your-heart-will-be-kind-and-true/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is all about being true to yourself and what you believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/life-is-all-about-being-true-to-yourself-and-what-you-believe-in/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [“The act of consciousness is central; otherwise we are overrun by the complexes. The hero in each of us is required to answer the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hollis/the-act-of-consciousness-is-central-otherwise-we-are-overrun-by-the/) [James Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hollis/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“When we honor our souls' truth, in whatever form that comes to us, and have the courage to follow where it leads, in spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-e-smith/when-we-honor-our-souls-truth-in-whatever-form-that-comes-to-us-and/) [Laurie E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-e-smith/) > [Don't let anyone tell you who you are. You who you are, and if anyone thinks differently, prove to them what you really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-anyone-tell-you-who-you-are-you-who-you-are-and-if-anyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone suffers; life is pain; and death is the final punctuation at the end of that sentence, so deal with it. I really think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/everyone-suffers-life-is-pain-and-death-is-the-final-punctuation-at/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [You didn't accidentally get your personality, looks and gifts. You were designed on purpose to be the way you are. You have what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-didn-t-accidentally-get-your-personality-looks-and-gifts-you-were/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss-oh-the-places-you-ll-go/you-have-brains-in-your-head-you-have-feet-in-your-shoes-you-can/) [Dr Seuss Oh The Places You'll Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss-oh-the-places-you-ll-go/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Personal style is about taking a risk, trying something unexpected, and having fun with fashion, but always being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/personal-style-is-about-taking-a-risk-trying-something-unexpected-and/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [It may be hard to remember, but you are who you are. You shouldn't change for people who don't accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-be-hard-to-remember-but-you-are-who-you-are-you-shouldn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is Fire all around you that burns Big and Bright.But The Fire inside you burns Strong and Light.Keep It Lit..Always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destinydreams/there-is-fire-all-around-you-that-burns-big-and-bright-but-the-fire/) [DestinyDreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destinydreams/) > [I Refuse To Make Excuses For Actions That Still Haven't Been Proven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dul/i-refuse-to-make-excuses-for-actions-that-still-haven-t-been-proven/) [Dul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dul/) [Browse all 329 Be true to yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-true-to-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Duke Ellington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depend-only-on-your-own-good-taste/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be true to yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depend-only-on-your-own-good-taste/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/duke-ellington-7513_be-true-to-yourself_create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depen_3188036.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.” — Duke Ellington", "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": "Duke Ellington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Create, and be true to yourself,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depend-only-on-your-own-good-taste/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/create-and-be-true-to-yourself-and-depend-only-on-your-own-good-taste/#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 } } ] } ```