--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jazz is what I play for a living." description: "\"Jazz is what I play for a living.\" — Louis Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png" --- # Jazz is what I play for a living. ![“Jazz is what I play for a living.” quote by Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png) > “Jazz is what I play for a living.” [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He plays jazz professionally and identifies it as his livelihood. **In simple terms:** Jazz is his job. Key Takeaway Embrace your passion as a career. Themes music career identity Mood proud confident Type personal career When to use this quote - musician gigs - teaching - branding - networking Key Concepts professionalism artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How does your work define you? - Can you separate art from income? A Different Perspective May overlook other talents beyond jazz. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [If you play jazz, then you play with your fingers. If you're playing rock, you use a pick. There's really no rhyme or reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-eubanks/if-you-play-jazz-then-you-play-with-your-fingers-if-you-re-playing/) [Kevin Eubanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-eubanks/) > [The problem we have is that, some people call it 'too rock' to play on a jazz station, and it's 'too jazz' to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/the-problem-we-have-is-that-some-people-call-it-too-rock-to-play-on-a/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [I like jazz, but I could never play it. You just sit there with a guitar the size of a Chevy on your chest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-like-jazz-but-i-could-never-play-it-you-just-sit-there-with-a/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [I feel that I have an obligation to jazz and also to myself to play as good as I can play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-feel-that-i-have-an-obligation-to-jazz-and-also-to-myself-to-play/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Never play anything the same way twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/never-play-anything-the-same-way-twice/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I entertain for a living and I role-play for a living, and I can't help but continue to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-olsson/i-entertain-for-a-living-and-i-role-play-for-a-living-and-i-can-t/) Ty Olsson > [I play for a living, but I also love to play. That's a healthy balance of emotion that, as a player, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/i-play-for-a-living-but-i-also-love-to-play-that-s-a-healthy-balance/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [If I was writing songs just for me I'd only play them in my living room, alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/if-i-was-writing-songs-just-for-me-i-d-only-play-them-in-my-living/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [There is no real difference between work and play - it’s all living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-is-no-real-difference-between-work-and-play-it-s-all-living/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I don’t think of work as work and play as play. It’s all living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-don-t-think-of-work-as-work-and-play-as-play-it-s-all-living/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-reward-for-playing-jazz-is-playing-jazz/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [We grew up with musicians coming over jamming. We had tons of instruments. So holidays were always like, 50 people would come over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-moss/we-grew-up-with-musicians-coming-over-jamming-we-had-tons-of/) [Elisabeth Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-moss/) > [It was liberating to do comedy. It felt like playing in a jazz band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/it-was-liberating-to-do-comedy-it-felt-like-playing-in-a-jazz-band/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I started playing jazz by slowing down Tal Farlow records and analyzing his runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-breau/i-started-playing-jazz-by-slowing-down-tal-farlow-records-and/) Lenny Breau > [I have a theory that musicians recognize each other and if they are destined to collaborate together they will. Mainly, they recognize each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlatko-stefanovski/i-have-a-theory-that-musicians-recognize-each-other-and-if-they-are/) Vlatko Stefanovski ## More by Louis Armstrong > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [ As many bands as you heard \[in New Orleans\], that's how many bands you heard playing right. I thought I was in Heaven playing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/as-many-bands-as-you-heard-in-new-orleans-that-s-how-many-bands-you/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [There's a thing I've dreamed of all my life, and I'll be damned if it don't look like it's about to come true-to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/there-s-a-thing-i-ve-dreamed-of-all-my-life-and-i-ll-be-damned-if-it/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [ \[Bebop is\] Chinese music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/bebop-is-chinese-music/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I've Got the World on a String,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/i-ve-got-the-world-on-a-string/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [Seems to me it ain't the world that's so bad but what we're doing to it, and all I'm saying is: see what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/seems-to-me-it-ain-t-the-world-that-s-so-bad-but-what-we-re-doing-to/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [Jazz is played from the heart. You can even live by it. Always love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/jazz-is-played-from-the-heart-you-can-even-live-by-it-always-love-it/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin' by I see friends shaking hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-colors-of-the-rainbow-so-pretty-in-the-sky-are-also-on-the-faces/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa, but people still line up to see the original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/a-lotta-cats-copy-the-mona-lisa-but-people-still-line-up-to-see-the/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [If it hadn't been for Jazz, there wouldn't be no rock and roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/if-it-hadn-t-been-for-jazz-there-wouldn-t-be-no-rock-and-roll/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-memory-of-things-gone-is-important-to-a-jazz-musician/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Oh, yeah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/and-i-think-to-myself-what-a-wonderful-world-oh-yeah/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [You blows who you is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/you-blows-who-you-is/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [When I go to the Gate, I'll play a duet with Gabriel. Yeah, we'll play 'Sleepy Time Down South' and 'Hello, Dolly!.' Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/when-i-go-to-the-gate-i-ll-play-a-duet-with-gabriel-yeah-we-ll-play/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/it-really-puzzles-me-to-see-marijuana-connected-with-narcotics-dope/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) [Explore all 92 Louis Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jazz is what I play for a living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b0/louis-armstrong-7258_inspirational_jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living-1875774_1875774.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Jazz is what I play for a living.” — Louis Armstrong", "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": "Louis Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Jazz is what I play for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/jazz-is-what-i-play-for-a-living/#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 } } ] } ```