--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a human being is oppressed, the…" description: "\"When a human being is oppressed, the natural tendency is to feel anger. Jazz is a response to oppression that is not bullets and blood. Jazz is the exp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/herbie-hancock-2674_anger_when-a-human-being-is-oppressed-the-natu_1171102.jpg" --- # When a human being is oppressed, the natural tendency is… ![“When a human being is oppressed, the natural tendency is to feel anger. Jazz is a response to oppression that is not bullets and blood. Jazz is the expression of harmony ... and at the same time of hope and freedom.” quote by Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/herbie-hancock-2674_anger_when-a-human-being-is-oppressed-the-natu_1171102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/herbie-hancock-2674_anger_when-a-human-being-is-oppressed-the-natu_1171102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/herbie-hancock-2674_anger_when-a-human-being-is-oppressed-the-natu_1171102.jpg) > “When a human being is oppressed, the natural tendency is to feel anger. Jazz is a response to oppression that is not bullets and blood. Jazz is the expression of harmony ... and at the same time of hope and freedom.” [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jazz transforms oppression into artistic harmony, offering hope and freedom without violence, showing music’s power to heal and unite. **In simple terms:** Music turns pain into hope. Key Takeaway Use art to express and overcome injustice. Themes justice music hope freedom Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational political When to use this quote - protest movements - community gatherings - personal healing - educational workshops Key Concepts cultural expression social activism Questions to Reflect On - How can music inspire concrete action? - What role does harmony play in social movements? A Different Perspective It may romanticize oppression, ignoring systemic change needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-jazz-3394819/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-oppressed-2075183/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-expression-3394818/) [Jazz Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-response-3394820/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) ## Related quotes > [We need to realize that we should be on the side of any human being who is oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-need-to-realize-that-we-should-be-on-the-side-of-any-human-being/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [jazz is the expression of America's romantic self, its sensual potency, its lyrical force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-expression-of-america-s-romantic-self-its-sensual-potency/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Oppression costs the oppressor too much if the oppressed stands up and protests. The protest need not be merely physical-the throwing of stones and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/oppression-costs-the-oppressor-too-much-if-the-oppressed-stands-up/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [I hate it, it is tedious... when I write for my act, it is very improvisational, I write bullet points, I cannot sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-hate-it-it-is-tedious-when-i-write-for-my-act-it-is-very/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [“It takes thousands of bullets to kill an army but one to end a war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martinez/it-takes-thousands-of-bullets-to-kill-an-army-but-one-to-end-a-war/) [Michael Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martinez/) > [Guard yourself and your conscience no one else will and know that a bad decision at the right time can destroy you far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/guard-yourself-and-your-conscience-no-one-else-will-and-know-that-a/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“If mankind's destined to bite the bullet, let's bite it and be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-mankind-s-destined-to-bite-the-bullet-let-s-bite-it-and-be-damned/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [My God! The English language is a form of communication! Conversation isn't just crossfire where you shoot and get shot at! Where you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/my-god-the-english-language-is-a-form-of-communication-conversation/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Thus is man made equal to every event. He can face danger for the right. A poor, tender, painful body, he can run into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/thus-is-man-made-equal-to-every-event-he-can-face-danger-for-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Discoveries from one community cannot be repackaged and provided to another as a silver bullet, That's a "best practice" rollout and it invariably evokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/discoveries-from-one-community-cannot-be-repackaged-and-provided-to/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“One javelin through five people is like a murder kabob. Saves bullets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/one-javelin-through-five-people-is-like-a-murder-kabob-saves-bullets/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## More by Herbie Hancock > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/most-people-define-themselves-by-what-they-do-i-m-a-musician-then-one/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't think there are any pure Africans of the African Americans, but the African part of our history was pretty much taken away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-pure-africans-of-the-african-americans/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [So in other words, we were constantly challenged to grow, and thats what a master does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/so-in-other-words-we-were-constantly-challenged-to-grow-and-thats/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. As soon as you start veering away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-strongest-thing-that-any-human-being-has-going-is-their-own/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Like no matter what happens, this would be the ultimate, they can make something positive happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/like-no-matter-what-happens-this-would-be-the-ultimate-they-can-make/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [There are a lot of records coming out, in every field of music, not just jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/there-are-a-lot-of-records-coming-out-in-every-field-of-music-not/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I like to present something that the people haven't seen or haven't heard before. Otherwise they might as well just stay home and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-like-to-present-something-that-the-people-haven-t-seen-or-haven-t/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't go around, the way many musicians do, with earbuds in my ear listening to my iPod all day and just sticking my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-go-around-the-way-many-musicians-do-with-earbuds-in-my-ear/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/creativity-and-artistic-endeavors-have-a-mission-that-goes-far-beyond/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [The most valuable things in life are priceless. They are courage, compassion, wisdom, respect for ourselves and others, and a host of characteristics that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-most-valuable-things-in-life-are-priceless-they-are-courage/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Creativity shouldn't be following radio; it should be the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/creativity-shouldn-t-be-following-radio-it-should-be-the-other-way/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [One thing I like about jazz is that it emphasized doing things differently from what other people were doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-thing-i-like-about-jazz-is-that-it-emphasized-doing-things/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) [Explore all 155 Herbie Hancock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a human being is oppressed, the natural tendency is to feel anger. Jazz is a response to oppression that is not bullets and blood. 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