James Brown Quotes

(about Elvis Presley) I wasn`t just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good; we never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him. Last time I saw him was at Graceland. We sang "Old Blind Barnabus" together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There`ll never be another like that soul brother.

Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I`m saying? You hear all the rappers, 90% of their music is me.

I would like to pass on the want to do something. The need is there. Good lyrics are good things, but I would like to pass on that drive, that vigorous undying determination.

We need to protect the kids by giving them something to do. It`s about making them interested, making them love mom and dad more, love the family more, love themselves more and love their school. So there won`t have to be killing in school.

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.

I named my new son James Joseph Brown II. I think he`s going to be a lot better than I was.

I`ve been knocked down a lot of times.

I taught them everything they know, but not everything I know.

I`m kidding about having only a few dollars. I might have a few dollars more.

You can take care of yourself, and God helps those who help themselves.

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.

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.

The hardest thing about being James Brown is I have to live. I don`t have no down time.

Thank God for the journey.

Like Christ said, love thee one another. I learned to do that, and I learned to respect and be appreciative and thankful for what I had.

I`ve been held responsible for taxes I know nothing about.

Michael Jackson has a very good heart. He was crying when he was giving me the award, `cause his mind went back over the early days.

My expectations of other people, I double them on myself.

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.

I just thank God for all of the blessings.

The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.

I`m not going to be joining ZZ Top. You know they can`t play my stuff. It`s too complicated.

I did the thing with bonds, which was about 30 million dollars, and didn`t get none of the money on them.

I was stillborn. The midwives laid me aside, thought I was really gone. I laid there about an hour, and they picked me back up and tried again, `cause my body was still warm. The Good Lord brought me back.

I got a wife who likes expensive things, so she takes all the cash.

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.

When I`m on stage, I`m trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don`t go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it.

Sometimes I feel like I`m a preacher as well, `cause I can really get into an audience.

I think what I came through is great, but my son can take it to another level, not having to fight racism. His mother`s a Norwegian and I`m mixed up four or five times, so he can face the world.

I`d like to cut down on the work a little bit.

When God took it, he accepted it; when he brought it back, he accepted it. That`s what`s happening with me.

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.

I want to say to you, Help yourself, so you can help someone else.

Hair is the first thing. And teeth the second. Hair and teeth. A man got those two things he`s got it all.

You can`t teach others if you are living the same way.

You only live once.