--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare…" description: "\"Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.\" — Duke Ellington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg" --- # Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he… ![“Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.” quote by Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg) > “Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.” [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. If Shakespeare lived today, his artistic sensibility might align with jazz’s improvisational spirit. **In simple terms:** Shakespeare could have liked jazz. Key Takeaway Consider how timeless art adapts to new forms. Themes creativity artistic influence historical imagination Mood playful contemplative Type comparative speculative When to use this quote - literary analysis - music appreciation - creative writing - comparative studies Key Concepts cultural adaptation musical improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How does artistic medium shape expression? - What parallels exist between poetry and jazz? A Different Perspective Modern contexts may differ, limiting direct comparison. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Fans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-fan-537818/) [Live for today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-today/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-alive-2320304/) [Suspect Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspect-shakespeare-2320303/) [Suspects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspects/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-jazz-874276/) ## Related quotes > [If Shakespeare were alive today, he might be writing on Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-might-be-writing-on-twitter/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [If Shakespeare was alive today, he'd be writing wrestling shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/if-shakespeare-was-alive-today-he-d-be-writing-wrestling-shows/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [If Shakespeare were alive today and writing comedy for the movies, he would be the head-liner for the Mack Sennett studios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-and-writing-comedy-for-the-movies-he/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [My mother is a singer, still performs today; she's a jazz singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hammer/my-mother-is-a-singer-still-performs-today-she-s-a-jazz-singer/) [Jan Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hammer/) > [Today jazz is still very much alive. Everywhere I go there's a new generation of musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toots-thielemans/today-jazz-is-still-very-much-alive-everywhere-i-go-there-s-a-new/) [Toots Thielemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toots-thielemans/) > [Today Jazz music is performed & listened to by people of all ethnicity, backgrounds, ages & creeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/today-jazz-music-is-performed-listened-to-by-people-of-all-ethnicity/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [If Shakespeare were alive today, he'd be doing sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-d-be-doing-sitcoms/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I'm sure if Shakespeare were alive today, he'd be doing classic guitar solos on YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-sure-if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-d-be-doing-classic-guitar/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [My dad is a big jazz fan, and that was the reason I first got into jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/my-dad-is-a-big-jazz-fan-and-that-was-the-reason-i-first-got-into-jazz/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [My father was a huge jazz fan, so I remember him playing Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, and Count Basie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/my-father-was-a-huge-jazz-fan-so-i-remember-him-playing-duke/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [I became a jazz fan quite early and never went off the path thereafter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/i-became-a-jazz-fan-quite-early-and-never-went-off-the-path-thereafter/) [Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/) > [I had always been a jazz fan - Django Reinhardt, Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, the early George Benson. And I come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/i-had-always-been-a-jazz-fan-django-reinhardt-kenny-burrell-wes/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [Our intention is to not only attract the hardcore jazz fan, but we're doing it in such a way that it will also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-lewis/our-intention-is-to-not-only-attract-the-hardcore-jazz-fan-but-we-re/) [Ramsey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-lewis/) > [I don't know who's 18 years old today that, 20 years hence, is going to be a jazz fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/i-don-t-know-who-s-18-years-old-today-that-20-years-hence-is-going-to/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [I'm not a big jazz fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-m-not-a-big-jazz-fan/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) ## 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 Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Duke Ellington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-might-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-might-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/duke-ellington-7513_alive_somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-we_1837034.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.” — 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": "Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-might-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/somehow-i-suspect-that-if-shakespeare-were-alive-today-he-might-be-a/#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 } } ] } ```