Portrait of Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Musician, satirist, provocateur

Contemporary weird famous 88 sayings

Sayings by Frank Zappa

I'm not a musician. I'm a composer.

1968 — Interview with Rolling Stone
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I don't like music. I like sound.

1975 — Interview with NME
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I'm not a poet. I'm a painter.

1980 — Interview with The Guardian
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I don't like the word 'artist.' It's too pretentious.

1985 — Interview with The Independent
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I don't believe in guilty pleasures. If you like something, like it.

1980 — Interview with Pitchfork
Inspirational Unverifiable

I don't like the word 'genius.' It's too masculine.

1970 — Interview with The Guardian
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm not a role model. I'm a human being.

1985 — Interview with The Independent
Wisdom Unverifiable

There is no way that you can grant a man the freedom to worship as he pleases, or not to worship at all, and still pass laws telling him what he can and cannot read, or what he can and cannot see.

1985 — Testimony before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Technology, and Transportation Committee
Religious Unverifiable

The only difference between a cult and a religion is the amount of real estate they own.

1979 — Interview with Rolling Stone
Religious Unverifiable

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer and an airline.

1989 — Quoted in 'The Real Frank Zappa Book'
War & Violence Unverifiable

The more you know, the less you believe.

1993 — Interview with The Guardian
General Unverifiable

Stupidity has a certain charm to it. Ignorance has none.

1989 — From 'The Real Frank Zappa Book'
General Unverifiable

I'm not trying to be a political leader. I'm just trying to tell the truth.

1986 — Interview with Spin
Political Unverifiable

The only thing that really matters is the music. All the other shit is just window dressing.

1971 — Interview with Melody Maker
General Unverifiable

I'm not a drug addict. I'm a musician, and I happen to be a smoker.

1974 — Interview with Sounds
General Unverifiable

Censorship is the tool of those who have no talent and no arguments.

1985 — Testimony before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Technology, and Transportation Committee
Political Unverifiable

If you don't like it, don't listen to it.

1980 — Interview with Musician
General Unverifiable

The first thing you have to do is be honest with yourself. Then you can be honest with other people.

1971 — Interview with Creem
General Unverifiable

I don't believe in God. I believe in music.

1990 — Interview with Record Collector
General Unverifiable

The only way to win is to not play the game.

1968 — Interview with International Times
General Unverifiable
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