Check out the best Nina Simone quotes that reflect her profound insights on music, freedom, love, art, feminism, and activism.
Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist whose powerful voice and artistry transcended generations.
Often referred to as the “High Priestess of Soul,” Simone was a classically trained pianist who blended jazz, blues, gospel, and classical influences to create her own unique sound.
From a young age, Simone had a fascination for classical music. She started learning to play the piano at the age of three.
Although she aspired to be a concert pianist, financial struggles led her to perform in nightclubs, where her soulful voice and captivating stage presence earned widespread recognition.
Her debut album, Little Girl Blue (1959), featured the hit single “I Loves You, Porgy,” which became her breakthrough song, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Throughout her career, Simone recorded more than 40 albums, delivering timeless songs like “I Put a Spell on You,” “Feeling Good,” “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”
Beyond music, Simone was a fearless advocate for racial and social justice. Her song “Mississippi Goddam,” performed at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, became an anthem of the civil rights movement, cementing her legacy as both an artist and activist.
Despite facing challenges in her personal life and career, she remained unapologetically true to herself and her beliefs.
Nina Simone’s legacy continues to inspire musicians, artists, and activists worldwide, reminding us of the transformative power of music as a tool for social change.
Here are the most famous Nina Simone quotes and song lyrics that encourage you to stand up for what is right and embrace the power of self-expression.
Top 10 Nina Simone Quotes
- “I’m a real rebel with a cause.” — Nina Simone
Nina Simone Quotes - “For my love is like the wind, and wild is the wind.” — Nina Simone
Quotes From Nina Simone - “It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times in which we live.” — Nina Simone
Famous Quotes By Nina Simone - “You don’t have to live next to me. Just give me my equality.” — Nina Simone
Nina Simone Quotations - “Slavery has never been abolished from America’s way of thinking.” — Nina Simone
Nina Simone Sayings - “I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear!” — Nina Simone
Nina Simone Quotes On Freedom - “This is the world you have made yourself, now you have to live in it.” — Nina Simone
Nina Simone Quotes On Life - “Jazz is not just music, it’s a way of life, a way of being, a way of thinking.” — Nina Simone
- “You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.” — Nina Simone
Best Nina Simone Quotes - “What kept me sane was knowing that things would change, and it was a question of keeping myself together until they did.” — Nina Simone
Best Nina Simone Quotes About Love, Art, & Music
- “Desegregation is a joke.” — Nina Simone
- “Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.” — Nina Simone
- “There’s no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.” — Nina Simone
- “I wasn’t a jazz player, but a classical musician, and I improvised arrangements of popular songs using classical motifs.” — Nina Simone
- “I want to shake people up so bad, that when they leave a nightclub where I’ve performed, I just want them to be to pieces.” — Nina Simone
- “I think that the artists who don’t get involved in preaching messages probably are happier – but you see, I have to live with Nina, and that is very difficult.” — Nina Simone
- “I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about… Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.” — Nina Simone
- “The worst thing about that kind of prejudice… is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough.” — Nina Simone
- “Anything human can be felt through music, which means that there is no limit to the creating that can be done with music. You can take the same phrase from any song and cut it up so many different ways – it’s infinite. It’s like God… you know?” — Nina Simone
- “Did you know that the human voice is the only pure instrument? That it has notes no other instrument has? It’s like being between the keys of a piano. The notes are there, you can sing them, but they can’t be found on any instrument. That’s like me. I live in between this. I live in both worlds, the black and white world.” — Nina Simone
Famous Nina Simone Song Lyrics
- “To be young, gifted and black is where it’s at!” — Nina Simone
- “You don’t know what it’s like to love somebody the way I love you.” — Nina Simone
- “I drink much more that I ought to drink because it brings me back you.” — Nina Simone
- “Sometimes I sound like gravel, and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.” — Nina Simone
- “All the time, there was the weight of my community’s expectations on my shoulders.” — Nina Simone
- “To me, we are the most beautiful creatures in the whole world. Black people. And I mean that in every sense.” — Nina Simone
- “At this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don’t think you can help but be involved.” — Nina Simone
- “Life is short. People are not easy to know. They’re not easy to know, so if you don’t tell them how you feel, you’re not going to get anywhere, I feel.” — Nina Simone
- “I would like a man now who is rich, and who can give me a boat – a sailboat. I want to own it and let him pay for it. My first love is the sea and water, not music. Music is second.” — Nina Simone
- “It is difficult to retain your standards with the pressure of trying to make money, which always has its rules…It’s hard to walk the tightrope of doing what you think is your best and making money at it.” — Nina Simone
- “Cause your mama’s name was lonely, and your daddy’s name was pain. And they called you little sorrow, cus you’ll never love again. You ain’t got no one to hold you. You ain’t got no one to care. if you’d only understand it. nobody wants you anywhere.” — Nina Simone
Conclusion
What are your favorite Nina Simone quotes and song lyrics listed above (with images and photos)? If there is a quote that we’ve missed then let us know in the comments section below.
Feel free to share with friends and family on Facebook, Tumblr, X, Instagram, Pinterest, WhatsApp, and more to spread positive vibes.
