Remembering The Wise Words of Miss Nina Simone With 10 of Her Best Quotes

In honor of what would’ve been her 88th birthday, discover quotes by the artist whose songs touched the souls of many and are still cherished today.

Eunice Waymon, known to most as Nina Simone, was an exceptional singer, songwriter, composer, and all-around musician. Her first foray into the world of music began at the ripe age of three, when she took up classical piano lessons with the intent of becoming the first Black, female classical pianist in America. Though never appointed this title, she went on to accomplish so much more. Beginning her singing career in Atlantic City nightclubs, she gained traction instantaneously, and soon after took on an unprecedented role in the music industry, with a sound so unique that it earned her the epithet of High Priestess of Soul.

Simone garnered international acclaim not only for her voice, but for her effervescent, almost palpable stage presence. She found a way to bridge the gaps between jazz, blues, and classical music in a way that both tapped into her spirit and spoke to the Black experience. With songs like “Backlash Blues” and “Mississippi Goddam,” she served the Civil Rights Movement in the best and only way she knew how: with her voice. Performing at monumental events such as the 1965 March on Selma, Simone played a pivotal role in the movement, and was uber-aware of this. Despite the prospect of threat to her career, she saw the movement through to the very end.

Simone’s work is still as relevant today as it was during her time, given the current state of America’s sociopolitical climate. Her unrelenting pursuit of equality, coupled with the weight of her voice, made her the force she is known as today. Join L’OFFICIEL in celebrating what would’ve been the singer’s 88th birthday, as we revisit some of her most moving and inspirational quotes.

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“I choose to reflect the times and the situations in which I find myself. That, to me, is my duty… How can you be an artist and not reflect the times?”

"I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean, really, no fear!"

“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”

"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."

“I wish you could know what it means to be me, then you'd see and agree that every man should be free.” –From the song “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free”

“I don’t mind going without food or sleep as long as I’m doing something worthwhile to me such as this.”

“Jazz is not just music, it’s a way of life, it’s a way of being, a way of thinking.”

“All I want is equality for my sister, my brother, my people, and me” –From the song “Mississippi Goddam”

“You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.”

“I’m a real rebel with a cause.”