Quotes by Herbie Hancock

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music

Its not the style that motivates me, as much as an attitude of openness that I have when I go into a project.

My hope is that the music will serve as a metaphor for the actions taken by the inhabitants of this wonderful planet as a call for world harmony on all levels.

The cool thing is that jazz is really a wonderful example of the great characteristics of Buddhism and great characteristics of the human spirit. Because in jazz we share, we listen to each other, we respect each other, we are creating in the moment. At our best, were non-judgmental.

Back in the day for me was a great time in my life - I was in my 20s. Most people refer to their experiences in their twenties as being a highlight in their life. Its a period of time where you often develop your own way, your own sound, your own identity, and that happened with me, when I was with a great teacher - Miles Davis.

Music happens to be an art form that transcends language.

Music is the tool to express life - and all that makes a difference.

It is peoples hearts that move the age.

Its part of life to have obstacles. Its about overcoming obstacles thats the key to happiness.

In World War II, jazz absolutely was the music of freedom, and then in the Cold War, behind the Iron Curtain, same thing. It was all underground, but they needed the food of freedom that jazz offered.

When I was six, my best friends parents bought him a piano. My mother noticed that every time I would go to his house, the first thing I would say to him was Levester - His name was Levester - I said, Levester, can I go play your piano? So, on my 7th birthday, my parents bought me a piano.

Being vulnerable is allowing yourself to trust. Thats hard for a lot of people to do. They feel a lot more secure if they kind of put walls around themselves. Then they dont have to trust anybody but themselves.

I dont see how we can have both the freedoms we had before and the safety net that we all need considering the way the world is today. And thats just because human beings cant trust each other. Weve given in over and over to some of the darkest elements that exist in life itself.

Its easy to get sidetracked with technology, and that is the danger, but ultimately you have to see what works with the music and what doesnt. In a lot of cases, less is more. In most cases, less is more.

The thing that we possess, that machines dont, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.

Without wisdom, the future has no meaning, no valuable purpose.

You can practice to attain knowledge, but you cant practice to attain wisdom.

World peace is no longer some pie-in-the-sky thing, because no single person or country is going to solve it on their own.

As a human being, Im concerned about the world that I live in. So, Im concerned about peace. Im concerned about - about mans inhumanity to man. Im concerned about the environment.

Its part of life to have obstacles. Its about overcoming obstacles thats the key to happiness.