Louis Armstrong, fondly known as Satchmo or Pops, was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor who became one of the most influential figures in jazz music. His profound quotes reflect the life and soul of a man deeply in connection with his music and the human experience. This compilation of Louis Armstrong quotes delves into various aspects of life, love, music, and humanity, providing inspiration and timeless wisdom suitable for every occasion.
Inspirational Louis Armstrong Quotes
"What we play is life."
"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."
"Man, if you have to ask what it is, you’ll never know."
"The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician."
"There is two kinds of music, the good, and the bad. I play the good kind."
"All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song."
"Everything I've ever done was done with affection and love for anyone who has ever been associated with me."
"We all do 'do, re, mi,' but you have got to find the other notes yourself."
"When I blow that trumpet of mine, I feel as if I'm a man from another world."
"Musicians don't retire; they stop when there's no more music in them."
"My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn."
"To jazz, or not to jazz, there is no question!"
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Music
"Musicians don't retire; they stop when there's no more music in them."
"There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell them."
"Music's my language, boy, and I'm gonna talk your socks off."
"I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show."
"My whole life has been happiness. Through all kinds of music, I have always been happy."
"If you are not making a mistake, it’s a mistake."
"The only thing better than singing is more singing."
"I am somebody, because I am somebody."
"I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom, for me and you."
"I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more than I'll ever know."
"There’s some folks, that, if they don’t know, you can’t tell them…”
"When you play music, you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed."
Louis Armstrong Quotes on Life
"What a wonderful world."
"Life is like a trumpet – if you don't put anything into it, you don't get anything out of it."
"Man, all the other cats wanna play like me, but I'm playin' like Bix."
"I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been."
"My life has been nothing but a failure."
"You blows who you is."
"I don't let things stress me; I do my best to let things and people go."
"Life is short, but it's long enough to ruin any man who wants to be ruined."
"Cause I've got the world on a string sittin' on a rainbow, got the string around my finger. What a world, what a life, I'm in love."
"The rhythm of life is a jazz rhythm."
"Keep it simple, to the point, and full of jazz!"
"As long as there’s life, there’s music; and as long as there’s music, there’s hope."
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Love
"I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do. They’re really saying I love you."
"Love is life's true sight."
"Red roses too, for you."
"What we play is life…and love."
"Love, baby, love – 'cause that’s where it’s at."
"If you have to ask what love is, you'll never know."
"I’ve got my heart in a song."
"All I got's a bunch of love songs… "
"To whom, to whom will I sing these love songs?"
"What we play is life…and there's no life without love."
"I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you – and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."
"Love is here to stay, and we’re together, going a long long way… "
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Happiness
"When you smile, the whole world smiles with you."
"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"
"You gotta love the life you're livin’."
"I hear babies cry, I watch them grow, they’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know."
"Hello, Dolly! Well, hello, Dolly! It’s so nice to have you back where you belong."
"Music's a thing distilled and expanded by the feelings and emotions…making people happier."
"When you’re smiling, keep on smiling, the whole world smiles with you."
"Il est impossible d’être triste, lorsqu’on joue du jazz avec ses amis."
"Every day, there’s always something that should make you feel happy… "
"Most folks enjoy the honey, because jazz has a lot of sweetness."
"Try to catch the bird of happiness, but don't stress if you remind yourself the cage – spread it."
"Smile and the whole world smiles with you! "
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Humanity
"I see trees of green, red roses too."
"I see friends shaking hands, asking 'how do you do?'"
"To think the person next to you is a different world within themselves is beautiful."
"The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky, are also on the faces of people going by."
"I've turned my system of living to the simple joys of the people – to the laughter, to the love, and to the music."
"Man, we bring so much happiness and joy to the people around us, with just a trumpet and a song."
"I see babies cry, I watch them grow."
"I love humanity in any shape and form."
"To watch a child smile is worth a thousand songs."
"It’s what we leave each other on this earth that matters the most."
"We is all one when music is what we play."
"There's beauty in each of us – cherish it!"
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Success
"If it wasn’t for jazz, I wouldn’t be here today."
"Success is like getting to the top; once you're there, you want to reach the next higher peak."
"What a wonderful world, what a world full of opportunity!"
"Every success story has its note of struggle – and it's the note that plays the loudest!"
"A flag, a faith, a band of brothers – that's what brings success."
"Creating your style is the first step towards success."
"Feel it first – hit the high note from the heart."
"It’s what you do with what you have in your basket that takes you the extra mile."
"Perceived success comes with a price – paid in full through perseverance."
"Success sings the tune of resilience."
"‘Don’t give up!’ should be your mantra – it’s the melody of success."
"Empathy is the underpinning key to success!"
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Vision
"A vision is like a song waiting to be sung."
"Your world is only as big as the vision you project."
"Without vision, even the best tune grows silent."
"Music is the echo of vision – it bridges imagination and reality."
"Seeing beauty in the smallest details – that’s vision."
"Vision sets the rhythm for life’s great dance."
"Expand the horizon – see through the eyes of others."
"A vision sees not the past, but a future full of hope."
"Dance to the beat of your vision."
"With vision, even silence sings loud."
"The color of the notes is hidden in the vision."
"Imagination ignites vision, translating frames of life."
Louis Armstrong Quotes About Change
"Don’t be afraid of change, 'cause that’s where the new begins."
"Change swings the rhythm of life."
"Music adapts – and humanity should too."
"Change adds new colors to this colorful world."
"Progress sings the tune of change."
"With every note, a new possibility of change unfolds."
"Every end is a new beginning sung with gusto."
"When the way gets tough, the tough swing with the change."
"Embrace the new beats – they bring new melodies."
"Allow change to orchestrate a new symphony in life."
"Change asks you to listen to the shifting wind and dance."
"It’s in change that we find our most authentic self's tune."
Louis Armstrong Quotes On Creativity
"Creativity is the joie de vivre of the soul."
"Jazz improvisation shows how creativity spins a heartfelt tune."
"In the whispers of creativity lies the loudness of expression."
"Creation takes a soul full of passion and a mind full of drive."
"Every misplaced note tells another story of creativity."
"Creativity is the rhythm that drives innovation."
"Keep your spirit creative – don’t just play the notes, live them."
"Creative minds harmonize the tunes the world needs to hear."
"Jazz shows us that the finest art form breathes in spontaneity."
"Every improvisation is a burst of creativity, a piece of a soul revealed in sound."
"To be creative is to embrace every twist and turn in the music of life."
"Creativity is a jazz line – unpredictable, unrepeatable, and full of soul."
Final words
Louis Armstrong had a profound way of communicating through his soul-infused quotes, shaping not just the world of jazz but also instilling wisdom and inspiration into the hearts of many. His reflections on life, love, music, and humanity continue to be a source of enlightenment, encouraging us to see the beauty in every detail, be it through change, vision, or creativity. Embracing his words helps us appreciate the depth of our own lives and find the harmony within our unique existence, much like the music he so passionately played.
