Poetry fettered fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry painting and music are destroyed or flourish.
To this wonderful page in our country's history another more glorious still will be added and the slave shall show at last to his free brothers a sharpened sword forged from the links of his fetters.
Their poverty secured their freedom since our desires and our possessions are the strongest fetters of despotism.
If we could only snap the fetters of the body that bind the feet of the soul we shall experience a great joy. Then we shall not be miserable because of the body's sufferings. We shall become free.
People have taken time out of their day and spent their money to come sit down at a concert. And it's jazz music-it's not easy for them to get to it. I don't want them ever to feel that I'm taking their presence lightly.