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Youssou N'Dour

11 quotes

Youssou N'Dour is proof that you do not need celebrity to say something worth remembering. Whether reflecting on Religion or Respect, Youssou N'Dour brought uncommon clarity to every subject. 12 of Youssou N'Dour's sharpest quotes live here, spanning themes of Religion, Respect, Politics, Travel, and Sad. To get a sense of their style, try: "I respect music, I do. I love it."

“In politics, sometimes you have to lie, or you make a promise that you cannot keep.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Politics

All Quotes by Youssou N'Dour

“I think people should know more of Africa in terms of its joie de vivre, its feeling for life. In spite of the images that one knows about Africa - the economic poverty, the corruption - there's a joy to living and a happiness in community, living together, in community life, which may be missing here in America.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Happiness

“I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, to religion. It is a dominant religion in Senegal.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Religion

“My father used to tell me about how musicians don't have respect from people and he was afraid about my future.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Respect

“Politics is politics art is art. If you play a political role, you have to stop being an artist.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Politics

“In the West, you have always associated the Islamic faith 100 percent with Arab culture. This in itself is a fundamentalist attitude and it is mistaken.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Attitude

“I'm a modern Muslim. I pray, and if I have a question, I ask someone who is more educated in the religion than me.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Religion

“In politics, sometimes you have to lie, or you make a promise that you cannot keep.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Politics

“I look at my people, and I look at those who control them - the political elite. And the sad thing is that the elites are just not interested in the welfare of the people.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Sad

“I respect music, I do. I love it.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Respect

“Islam is a peaceful religion.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Religion

“Travel teaches as much as books.”

— Youssou N'Dour

Travel