Art Blakey Quotes

I'm starting to believe in the power of a name. Because it can't be a mistake if I just call it 'change.'

There is all the poetry in the world in a name. It is a poem which the mass of men hear and read. What is poetry in the common sense, but a hearing of such jingling names? I want nothing better than a good word. The name of a thing may easily be more than the thing itself to me.

People's fates are simplified by their names.

All names mean something.

What is there in a name? It is merely an empty basket, until you put something into it.

In this world one must have a name; it prevents confusion, even when it does not establish identity. Some, though, are known by numbers, which also seem inadequate distinctions.

There is tremendous life and personality in a name. It should be at least as agonized over as any character trait.

Must a name mean something?" Alice asked doubtfully. Of course it must," Humpty Dumpty said with a short laugh; "my name means the shape I am - and a good handsome shape it is, too. With a name like yours, you might be any shape, almost.

My name is Ellen and I'm a vegetarian. Just to add another label to me: I am a lesbian, aquarian and vegetarian. I've said it.

Names are still magic; even Sharon, Karen, Darren, and Warren are magic to somebody somewhere. In fairy stories, naming is knowledge. When I know your name, I can call your name, and when I call your name, you'll come to me.

'What's the use of their having names the Gnat said, 'if they won't answer to them?' 'No use to them,' said Alice; 'but it's useful to the people who name them, I suppose. If not, why do things have names at all?' 'I can't say,' the Gnat replied.

It doesn't matter what your name is!

A strange thing, words. Once they're said, it's hard to imagine they're untrue.

Names come and names go.

And I'm convinced that knowing the names of things braces people up.

We all name ourselves. We call ourselves artists. Nobody asks us. Nobody says you are or you aren't.

I used to have only one name; it used to mean something.

There is a great deal in a name. It often signifies much, and may involve a great principle.

Finding a name for something is a way of conjuring its existence, of making it possible for people to see a pattern where they didn't see anything before.

People do come up to me quite a lot. I get called all of it. I rarely get called my name; it's usually "Hey, Dr. Edwards!" or "Algernon." The most common thing is, "You're the black doctor on that show!" I'll take any of it, because I've definitely been called much worse things.

Dangerous thing, a name. Someone might catch hold of you by it, mightn't they?

Marriage is what marriage is... It’s like going out and saying, ‘That tree is a car.’ Well, the tree’s not a car. A tree’s a tree. Marriage is marriage.

To me there is a name for each person. I think it’s marvelous to have a name. A woman is not a woman. It’s either Gena or my mother or some other person.

No object is stuck with its name so irrevocably that one cannot find another which suits it better.

At present our only true names are nicknames.