Looking for some of the most encouraging quotes for musicians? Musicians have done much more than just give us great songs to enjoy. They have also provided some very wise and musician inspirational quotes to keep us going through life, work, and relationships.
Here are 50 best musician quotes from musicians such as Beethoven, Madonna, and Ed Sheeran. From every era and genre, these musicians know just how to relate to us, in ways that few others can.
What Are Some Music Quotes?
If you’re looking for some famous music quotes by musicians, you have plenty to choose from. Those musicians sure are a witty and poetic bunch!
Here are five of our favorite motivational quotes by famous musicians (but don’t worry – we’ll give you a full roundup of famous singer quotes from musicians below):
- “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” John Lennon
- “If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” Beyoncé
- “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” Taylor Swift
- “You see, we are here, as far as I can tell, to help each other; our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our enemies. That is to help each other and not hurt each other.” Stevie Ray Vaughan
- “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” Frank Zappa
Here is a video compilation of some of the best musical quotes from musicians, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY8rKdPoIyQ
The Top 50 Famous Quotes From Musicians
Here are some of the best quotes about music from musicians, categorized by topic so you can find the perfect one for any mood!
Famous Musician Quotes About Life
Sometimes you just need to embrace life, accept your mistakes, and not take things too seriously. These inspirational quotes by famous singers will remind you of that!
“Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” John Lennon
“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” Beyoncé
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” Taylor Swift
“You see, we are here, as far as I can tell, to help each other; our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our enemies. That is to help each other and not hurt each other.” Stevie Ray Vaughan
“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” Frank Zappa
“Find someone who has a life that you want and figure out how they got it. Read books, pick your role models wisely. Find out what they did and do it.” Lana del Rey
“I’ve had great success being a total idiot.” – Jerry Lewis
“Do the things you believe in, in the name of love. And know that, you aren’t alone. We all have doubts and fear.” Carole King
“Imagination creates reality.” Richard Wagner
“Never stop fighting no matter what anyone says. If it’s in your gut, your soul, there’s nothing, no worldly possession that should come between you and your expression.” Kanye West
“Dare to wear the foolish clown face.” Frank Sinatra
“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” BB King
“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.” John Cage
“Everything is scary if you look at it. So you just got to live it.” Mary J. Blige
Quotes on Music By Musicians About Love
Is there a special someone in your life, but you don’t know how to tell them how you really feel? Leave it to these musical greats to help turn your feelings into words.
“Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same.” Schubert
“Love is like nothing else on this earth, but only when it is shared with someone wonderful like you.” Mandy Moore
“I can live only wholly with you or not at all.” Beethoven
“Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” Mozart
“What force is more potent than love?” Igor Stravinsky
“For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town
The sun was shining everywhere…” George Gershwin
“And, in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Paul McCartney
“‘Love’ is supreme and unconditional; ‘like’ is nice but limited.” – Duke Ellington
“Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap.” Ray Charles
“I can do nothing but think of you…what have you done to me? Can’t you remove the spell you have cast over me?” Johannes Brahms
“I know of no better definition of love than the one given by Proust – Love is space and time measured by the heart.” Gian Carlo Menotti
“Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.” Billie Holiday
Motivational Quotes from Musicians About Work
Need a pep talk? Whatever you’re going through at work, these music quote by musicians will give you the confidence to go for what you really want.
“One thing I’ve learned is that I’m not the owner of my talent; I’m the manager of it.” Madonna
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” Ella Fitzgerald
“You can’t knock on opportunity’s door and not be ready.” Bruno Mars
“You build on failure. Use it as a stepping stone and close the door on the past. Don’t try to forget the mistakes, but don’t dwell on it.” Johnny Cash
“The roughest roads often lead to the top.” Christina Aguilera
“You can’t give up something you really believe in for financial reasons.” Robert Plant
“To some extent I happily don’t know what I’m doing. I feel that it’s an artist’s responsibility to trust that.” David Byrne
“I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well.” J. S. Bach
“To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.” Leonard Bernstein
“Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.” Aretha Franklin
“So put your heart and soul into it and give it everything you’ve got, and more power to you.” Vinnie Paul
“If you do something you hate and have success, you’ll still hate it, if you do something you hate and fail, all the worse, if you do something you love and fail, at least you did something you loved, if you do something you love and succeed, double win.” Moby
“Make mistakes, make mistakes, make mistakes. Just make sure they’re your mistakes.” Fiona Apple
“It’s like if you want something so badly go out there and grab, just keep on doing it.” Ed Sheeran
Great Quotes From Musicians About Ourselves
Need some words of encouragement? These inspirational singer quotes will help you shine just the way you are, and discover what makes you truly unique!
“Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people.” Prince
“Increase your confidence in your self-worth and in your ability to contribute good things to the world.” Lindsey Stirling
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” Kurt Cobain
“Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. I didn’t have to become perfect because I’ve learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness.” Janelle Monae
“You don’t have to believe everything you think.” Erykah Badu
“Where’s your will to be weird?” Jim Morrison
“There’s always that argument to make – that you’re in better company historically if people don’t understand what you’re doing.” Elliott Smith
“Trying to please everybody is impossible—if you did that, you’d end up in the middle with nobody liking you. You’ve just got to make the decision about what you think is your best, and do it.” John Lennon
“Until you’re ready to look foolish, you’ll never have the possibility of being great.” Cher
“I’m one of those regular weird people.” Janis Joplin
How Do You Praise Musician Quotes?
The best way to recognize the best quote from musicians? Keep sharing them over and over again – and take inspiration from them yourself! The best way to honor these brilliant musicians and their words is to become a musician yourself.
Each of these short music quotes from musicians made our top 50 list for various reasons. Some are famous and others are unexpected, but they all have something in common. They’re there to motivate you and help you view things the way only a true artist can!
Feeling inspired to hone your craft? Consider music lessons with an experienced teacher, or the free online classes at TakeLessons Live.
Natalie Hagen