Built Quote by Nikki Giovanni
![“I used to go up to her house. She lived upstate [in New York] and I lived in Manhattan; you're living in a lot of noise and my career was being built. For me to spend time with Nina [Simone] is to spend a lot of quiet time.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/950/nikki-giovanni-1757_built_i-used-to-go-up-to-her-house-she-lived-u_2078179.jpg)
“I used to go up to her house. She lived upstate [in New York] and I lived in Manhattan; you're living in a lot of noise and my career was being built. For me to spend time with Nina [Simone] is to spend a lot of quiet time.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1995
She seeks quiet moments away from urban noise to nurture personal relationships and creative work.
In simple terms: She values quiet time with loved ones.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize quiet, meaningful interactions.
Themes
relationships
creativity
urban vs rural
balance
solitude
Mood
reflective
intimate
Type
personal
relationship
When to use this quote
- visiting family
- writing retreats
- city dwellers seeking peace
- career development
Key Concepts
mindfulness
environmental influence
personal growth
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create quiet spaces in a busy life?
- What relationships benefit from intentional time?
A Different Perspective
Quiet may be hard to find in noisy environments.
![“I just think she was a wonderful woman. What I think of when I think of Nina [Simone] is someone that I could relate to, who didn't want anything from me, that could relate to me because I didn't want anything from her. It was nice.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d5/nikki-giovanni-1757_holiday_i-just-think-she-was-a-wonderful-woman-w_31454.jpg)
![“I prefer her [Nina Simone's] jazz period much more so than her folk period.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b5b/nikki-giovanni-1757_folks_i-prefer-her-nina-simone-s-jazz-period-m_2830726.jpg)
![“I think it's the strength of her music, using art to make a statement. I think it really is. It was not a cheap gift. The gift was an expensive gift for Nina [Simone]. Diamonds are expensive. Her music was expensive. She paid for it, but I think it's her greatest gift.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ce/nikki-giovanni-1757_art_i-think-it-s-the-strength-of-her-music-u_2650526.jpg)
![“I think that too many strangers were in her [Nina Simone's] life, and not enough people that she knew and loved.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/363/nikki-giovanni-1757_enough_i-think-that-too-many-strangers-were-in_2169841.jpg)
![“I was responding to one thing for the woman I knew, and there's another thing for what did she give, right. She [Nina Simone] was a great teacher.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6d/nikki-giovanni-1757_giving_i-was-responding-to-one-thing-for-the-wo_1787277.jpg)
![“I knew Stokely [Carmichael] and them, but when you got to that, you saw that Nina Simone started to take up their burden. She started to preach for them. She was taking on the burden of "I want to tell the people."” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d59/nikki-giovanni-1757_burden_i-knew-stokely-carmichael-and-them-but-w_1220940.jpg)
![“I am of the generation of segregation. Black Lives Matter is post. I said today, and I will say all the time, "If Nina [Simone] were here, she'd have her Black Lives Matter [T-shirt] on." I think they're great kids. They don't need me or anybody else to tell them what to do.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/82d/nikki-giovanni-1757_black_i-am-of-the-generation-of-segregation-bl_3088547.jpg)
![“We just didn't put any pressure on each other, and I think that everybody needs somebody, and I didn't do it to try to do it; it's what we [with Nina Simone] were to each other.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e4d/nikki-giovanni-1757_needs_we-just-didn-t-put-any-pressure-on-each_773497.jpg)
![“I wish that she had had a black loon because I don't think that Nina [Simone] did. I have always had - I've been very fortunate - a group of little old ladies that I love and who love me, and who turned and to whom I turn at different times.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c5c/nikki-giovanni-1757_black_i-wish-that-she-had-had-a-black-loon-bec_726965.jpg)
![“[To become a poet] The most important thing is to pay attention. The next would probably be to read; it's so important to pay attention. It keeps you from being bored, and I might add it keeps you from being boorish.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27b/nikki-giovanni-1757_add_to-become-a-poet-the-most-important-thin_189198.jpg)
