If you want to be a good blues singer, people are going to be down on you, so dress like you're going to the bank to borrow money.
B. B. KingRead
I was born on a plantation, and things weren't so good. We didn't have any money. I never thought of the word 'poor' 'til I got to be a man, but when you live in a house that you can always peek out of and see what kind of day it is, you're not doing so well. And your rest room is not inside the house.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the harsh realities of poverty and the resilience it can foster.
B. B. King's quote conveys his personal experience growing up in difficult circumstances, shedding light on the realities of life in poverty. He emphasizes how living conditions, such as having an outdoor restroom, can starkly illustrate one's financial struggles, yet it also hints at the strength and awareness gained through such experiences. Despite the challenges, the speaker's perspective underscores a greater understanding of life and resilience.
Themes
PovertyResilienceLifeExperienceStruggle
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a discussion about overcoming hardships in life.
More from B. B. King
All quotes →The way I feel today, as long as my health is good and I can handle myself well and people still come to my concerts, still buy my CDs, I'll keep playing until I feel like I can't.
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Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do and then just go for it. I never know what the public's going to like, anyway.
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A guitar is like an old friend that is there with me.
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I have not been a good father, but no father has loved his children more. Like my father, I decided the best thing I could do for my kids was work and provide. Fortunately, I've been able to do that. Unfortunately, my work was on the road, and that's meant a life of one-nighters.
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People all over the world have problems. And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.
B. B. KingRead
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