James Brown (1933–2006) was an influential American singer, songwriter, and performer known as the “Godfather of Soul.” Rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, Brown’s electrifying stage presence, dynamic voice, and innovative musical style revolutionized rhythm and blues, funk, and soul music. Hits like “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” showcased his distinctive sound and energetic performances. Beyond music, Brown was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, using his platform to address issues of racial equality and empowerment. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, his legacy extends far beyond his chart-topping hits, leaving an indelible mark on music and culture. James Brown’s contributions continue to inspire artists across genres, solidifying his status as a cultural icon and musical legend.

James Brown Quotes

1. “The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.”
— James Brown

2. “Don’t terrorize. Organize. Don’t burn. Give kids a chance to learn.”
— James Brown

3. “You got to use what you got to get just what you want.”
— James Brown

4. “I only got a seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use.”
— James Brown

5. “Don’t let nobody take care of your business better than you.”
— James Brown

6. “I’ve got soul and I’m super bad.”
— James Brown

7. “I don’t really care what people think, … I just do my own thing. … I like being loud and letting people know I’m there.”
— James Brown

8. “If you don’t get it the first time, back up and try it again.”
— James Brown

9. “Music, it requires more than brawn. It requires a lot of heart. You gotta put love in there.”
— James Brown

10. “You can’t teach others if you are living the same way.”
— James Brown

11. “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself).”
— James Brown

12. “Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.”
— James Brown

13. “You got to live for yourself, yourself and nobody else.”
— James Brown

14. “My music wasn’t written by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach or Schubert. It’s written by God and me.”
— James Brown

15. “When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy.”
— James Brown

16. “Got ants in my pants and I need to dance, so big fine mama, come give me a chance.”
— James Brown

17. “Our silence is deafening and deadly.”
— James Brown

18. “I don’t know karate, but I know crazy.”
— James Brown

19. “I taught them everything they know, but not everything I know.”
— James Brown

20. “In our advanced technological age, most people deny the possibility of miracles… Yet we live and move in a sea of miracle.”
— James Brown

21. “I want to say to you: Help yourself, so you can help someone else.”
— James Brown

22. “Takes a man or a woman to say I’m sorry, and it takes a fool to walk away.”
— James Brown

23. “Music has to breathe and sweat. You have to play it live.”
— James Brown

24. “Hair is the first thing. And teeth the second. Hair and teeth. A man got those two things he’s got it all.”
— James Brown

25. “Tell the politicians and the hustlers: live and let live.”
— James Brown

26. “The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.”
— James Brown

27. “Don’t terrorize. Organize. Don’t burn. Give kids a chance to learn.”
— James Brown

28. “You got to use what you got to get just what you want.”
— James Brown

29. “I only got a seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use.”
— James Brown

30. “Don’t let nobody take care of your business better than you.”
— James Brown

31. “I’ve got soul and I’m super bad.”
— James Brown

32. “I don’t really care what people think, … I just do my own thing. … I like being loud and letting people know I’m there.”
— James Brown

33. “Music, it requires more than brawn. It requires a lot of heart. You gotta put love in there.”
— James Brown

34. “You can’t teach others if you are living the same way.”
— James Brown

35. “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself).”
— James Brown

36. “Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.”
— James Brown

37. “You got to live for yourself, yourself and nobody else.”
— James Brown

38. “My music wasn’t written by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach or Schubert. It’s written by God and me.”
— James Brown

39. “When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy.”
— James Brown

40. “Got ants in my pants and I need to dance, so big fine mama, come give me a chance.”
— James Brown

41. “Our silence is deafening and deadly.”
— James Brown

42. “I don’t know karate, but I know crazy.”
— James Brown

43. “I taught them everything they know, but not everything I know.”
— James Brown

44. “In our advanced technological age, most people deny the possibility of miracles… Yet we live and move in a sea of miracle.”
— James Brown

45. “I want to say to you: Help yourself, so you can help someone else.”
— James Brown

46. “Takes a man or a woman to say I’m sorry, and it takes a fool to walk away.”
— James Brown

47. “Music has to breathe and sweat. You have to play it live.”
— James Brown

48. “Hair is the first thing. And teeth the second. Hair and teeth. A man got those two things he’s got it all.”
— James Brown

49. “Tell the politicians and the hustlers: live and let live.”
— James Brown

50. “Take those kids and raise them up, teach them how to drink out of a righteous cup.”
— James Brown

51. “You can take care of yourself, and God helps those who help themselves.”
— James Brown

52. “I had to tell about my colonic, which expresses the fact why I’m so neat today as opposed to a few years ago. I never knew that the weight made that much difference.”
— James Brown

53. “Retire for what? What would I do? I made my name as a person that is helping. I’m like Moses in the music business.”
— James Brown

54. “I’m twice as old, but I feel good.”
— James Brown

55. “Papa didn’t cuss, he didn’t raise a whole lot of fuss. But when we did wrong, Papa beat the hell out of us.”
— James Brown

56. “The hardest thing about being James Brown is I have to live. I don’t have no down time.”
— James Brown

57. “I’ve been held responsible for taxes I know nothing about.”
— James Brown

58. “I’d rather be Jack be smart, than Jack be quick. Watch out for the man with the big fat licking stick.”
— James Brown

59. “We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. That was an anomaly in an of itself.”
— James Brown

60. “I’m kidding about having only a few dollars. I might have a few dollars more.”
— James Brown

61. “I think the best thing about being James Brown is looking at my little son. Hopefully I can make my son a role model to a lot of people.”
— James Brown

62. “When you touch me, good God.”
— James Brown

63. “For goodness sake, look at those cakes.”
— James Brown

64. “I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana, and we’d have him on the talent shows. He kind of emulated me, and did the best he could.”
— James Brown

65. “My son don’t have to say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud. He don’t have to be called those crazy names.”
— James Brown

66. “I used to play one job and have 125 pair of shoes on the floor. What was I doing? I couldn’t wear but one pair.”
— James Brown

67. “You’re like a dull knife, it just ain’t cutting.”
— James Brown

68. “I used to think like Moses. That knocked me down for a couple years and put me in prison. Then I start thinking like Job. Job waited and became the wealthiest and richest man ever ’cause he believed in God.”
— James Brown

69. “I’ve been knocked down a lot of times.”
— James Brown

70. “I named my new son James Joseph Brown II. I think he’s going to be a lot better than I was.”
— James Brown

71. “I did the thing with bonds, which was about 30 million dollars, and didn’t get none of the money on them.”
— James Brown

72. “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”
— James Brown