People are a lot smarter than anyone gives them credit for being.

Quote by Ruben Blades

Topics: Ruben Blades Quotes

I think in New York we had respect and we would pretty much fill up...

I think in New York we had respect and we would pretty much fill up...

I decided we should book ourselves, so I started booking the band.

I decided we should book ourselves, so I started booking the band.

Anywhere you had a commerce center, you had a lot of music.

Anywhere you had a commerce center, you had a lot of music.

A lot of times you're just conditioned by what's around you.

A lot of times you're just conditioned by what's around you.

The grandmother, the mother, the worker, the student, the intellectual, the professional, the unemployed, everybody...

The grandmother, the mother, the worker, the student, the intellectual, the professional, the unemployed, everybody...

And music was a very important part of our lives. The radio was on all...

And music was a very important part of our lives. The radio was on all...

So everything that ever happened, we knew about in Panama.

So everything that ever happened, we knew about in Panama.

You know, it was uncomfortable doing the same thing. I don't like a rut.

You know, it was uncomfortable doing the same thing. I don't like a rut.

So that I saw music as a way of documenting realities from the urban cities...

So that I saw music as a way of documenting realities from the urban cities...

In those days the big U.S. labels didn't have any particular interest in the Latin...

In those days the big U.S. labels didn't have any particular interest in the Latin...

Every band had their own distinctive sound, but it was pretty much dancing music and...

Every band had their own distinctive sound, but it was pretty much dancing music and...

We had something to say. Whenever we played, people didn't dance, they listened.

We had something to say. Whenever we played, people didn't dance, they listened.

I was the first person to come into New York with a Latin American point...

I was the first person to come into New York with a Latin American point...

It doesn't make sense for me to be a lawyer in a place where there...

It doesn't make sense for me to be a lawyer in a place where there...

So that when I came to New York again, it was, I'm not too sure...

So that when I came to New York again, it was, I'm not too sure...

And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New...

And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New...

Rock is young music, it is youth oriented. It just speaks for a generation.

Rock is young music, it is youth oriented. It just speaks for a generation.

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance.

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance.

So that in 1974, when I graduated as a lawyer, I figured I'm not going...

So that in 1974, when I graduated as a lawyer, I figured I'm not going...

They're making a ton of money, and no one is getting a nickel.

They're making a ton of money, and no one is getting a nickel.