--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't hold it against Dizzy…" description: "\"I don't hold it against Dizzy [Gillespie], you know, but if a guy wants to play a certain way, you work towards that. If he stops - he's full of crap, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/miles-davis-1842_apes_i-don-t-hold-it-against-dizzy-gillespie_1460081.jpg" --- # I don't hold it against Dizzy \[Gillespie\], you know, but… ![“I don't hold it against Dizzy [Gillespie], you know, but if a guy wants to play a certain way, you work towards that. If he stops - he's full of crap, you know. I mean, I wouldn't do it, for no money, or for no place in the white man's world. Not just to make money, because then you don't have…” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/miles-davis-1842_apes_i-don-t-hold-it-against-dizzy-gillespie_1460081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/miles-davis-1842_apes_i-don-t-hold-it-against-dizzy-gillespie_1460081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/miles-davis-1842_apes_i-don-t-hold-it-against-dizzy-gillespie_1460081.jpg) > “I don't hold it against Dizzy \[Gillespie\], you know, but if a guy wants to play a certain way, you work towards that. If he stops - he's full of crap, you know. I mean, I wouldn't do it, for no money, or for no place in the white man's world. Not just to make money, because then you don't have anything. You don't have as much money as whoever you're trying to ape; that's making money by being commercial. Then you don't have anything to give the world; so you're not important. You might as well be dead.” [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True artistic expression requires authenticity, not chasing profit or imitation; compromising leads to emptiness. **In simple terms:** Stay true, avoid copying for money. Key Takeaway Prioritize authenticity over commercial gain. Themes authenticity artistic integrity commercialism Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - music industry - visual arts - writing - entrepreneurship Key Concepts creative originality cultural identity self‑worth Questions to Reflect On - What balance can artists strike between integrity and livelihood? - How does imitation affect creative growth? A Different Perspective The view may undervalue practical financial needs of artists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Commercialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercialism/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Making money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-money/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I never turned down a movie because they wouldn't give me enough money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-patric/i-never-turned-down-a-movie-because-they-wouldn-t-give-me-enough-money/) [Jason Patric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-patric/) > [If it weren't for 'Cuckoo's Nest,' it would be very difficult for me. It gave me a cushion to live at my artistic pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milos-forman/if-it-weren-t-for-cuckoo-s-nest-it-would-be-very-difficult-for-me-it/) [Milos Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milos-forman/) > [It would be virtually impossible to finance wars without taxing the people, and the welfare system would be limited because there wouldn't be enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-would-be-virtually-impossible-to-finance-wars-without-taxing-the/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I'm not stingy. I'm just afraid of being an easy mark. People wouldn't have money long if they didn't ask how much things cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-duke/i-m-not-stingy-i-m-just-afraid-of-being-an-easy-mark-people-wouldn-t/) [Doris Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-duke/) > [Opposites may attract, but I wouldn't put my money on a relationship of financial opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/opposites-may-attract-but-i-wouldn-t-put-my-money-on-a-relationship/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [Tom Jones is funny to me, man. I mean, he really tries to ape Ray Charles and Sammy Davis, you know. He's nice-looking; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/tom-jones-is-funny-to-me-man-i-mean-he-really-tries-to-ape-ray/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Birth of the Cool' became a collector's item, I think, out of a reaction to Bird and Dizzy's music. Bird and Diz played this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/birth-of-the-cool-became-a-collector-s-item-i-think-out-of-a-reaction/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [We're trying to make money, trying to add a zero onto our net worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/we-re-trying-to-make-money-trying-to-add-a-zero-onto-our-net-worth/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [The mistake you make, don't you see,is in thinking one can live in a corrupt society without being corrupt oneself. After all, what do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-mistake-you-make-don-t-you-see-is-in-thinking-one-can-live-in-a/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The business is so driven by money, everyone's trying to get it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/the-business-is-so-driven-by-money-everyone-s-trying-to-get-it-right/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I started out from a pretty modest background, so I always had a pretty good sense of money. I always had to work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-arment/i-started-out-from-a-pretty-modest-background-so-i-always-had-a/) [Marco Arment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-arment/) > [The issue often with films is how it works with money and trying to get a visible movie star presence in the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsh/the-issue-often-with-films-is-how-it-works-with-money-and-trying-to/) [James Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsh/) > [I've had plenty of friends tell me that their first time doing stand-up, they do well, and then they tank for a while after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-ve-had-plenty-of-friends-tell-me-that-their-first-time-doing-stand/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I should say, the one thing you run into is, if you're trying to raise a round you have to decide, well, how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plotz/i-should-say-the-one-thing-you-run-into-is-if-you-re-trying-to-raise/) [David Plotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plotz/) > [I know some people are offended by the fact that I'm spending a lot of money trying to win the America's Cup. I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-know-some-people-are-offended-by-the-fact-that-i-m-spending-a-lot/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) ## More by Miles Davis > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/look-man-all-i-am-is-a-trumpet-player/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-have-to-practice-for-a-long-time-before-you-can-learn-to-sound/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [There are no wrong notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/there-are-no-wrong-notes/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/knowledge-is-freedom-and-ignorance-is-slavery/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-began-to-realize-that-some-of-the-things-ornette-coleman-had-said/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/people-will-go-for-anything-they-don-t-understand-if-it-s-got-enough/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you're trying to be hip, be hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/if-you-re-trying-to-be-hip-be-hip/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/my-father-s-rich-my-momma-s-good-looking-right-and-i-can-play-the/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-m-out-there-doing-the-best-that-i-can-my-lip-is-cut-and-i-m-still/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [When I'm playing, I'm never through. It's unfinished. I like to find a place to leave for someone else to finish it. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-m-playing-i-m-never-through-it-s-unfinished-i-like-to-find-a/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ \[Prince\] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellington-of-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-can-tell-whether-a-person-can-play-just-by-the-way-he-stands/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Do not fear mistakes. There are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/do-not-fear-mistakes-there-are-none/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You can't compete with Sweets' sound and time feel. It's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-can-t-compete-with-sweets-sound-and-time-feel-it-s-impossible/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) [Explore all 204 Miles Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## More Apes quotes > [Television's perfect. You turn a few knobs, a few of those mechanical adjustments at which the higher apes are so proficient, and lean back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/television-s-perfect-you-turn-a-few-knobs-a-few-of-those-mechanical/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Battle For The Planet Of The Apes', was just a film for kids and didn't have any deep meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lee-thompson/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-was-just-a-film-for-kids-and-didn-t/) J. Lee Thompson > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/civilization-is-only-a-pretense-in-the-crisis-we-become-mere-apes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The idea that war should be conducted within a moral framework may seem like a quaint medieval practice, but as speech separates humans from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-war-should-be-conducted-within-a-moral-framework-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I think the problem we have as apes is we're asking far bigger questions than we could possibly process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-think-the-problem-we-have-as-apes-is-we-re-asking-far-bigger/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [We admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realise that we are apes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-admit-that-we-are-like-apes-but-we-seldom-realise-that-we-are-apes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Lower your gaze because you become less of a human every time you stare at a woman and you stare at her like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/lower-your-gaze-because-you-become-less-of-a-human-every-time-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [It was their individuality combined with the shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/it-was-their-individuality-combined-with-the-shyness-of-their/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [Apes had it worked out. No ape would philosophize, "The mountain is, and is not." They would think, "The banana is. I will eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/apes-had-it-worked-out-no-ape-would-philosophize-the-mountain-is-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 444 Apes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't hold it against Dizzy [Gillespie], you know, but if a guy wants to play a certain way, you work towards that. If he stops - he's full of crap, you know. I mean, I wouldn't do it, for no money, or for no place in the white man's world. Not just to make money, because then you don't have anything. You don't have as much money as whoever you're trying to ape; that's making money by being commercial. Then you don't have anything to give the world; so you're not important. 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