Interviewer: What other interests do you have? 

Thelonious Monk: Life in general. 

Interviewer: What do you do about it? 

Thelonious Monk: Keep breathing. 

...  

Interviewer: What do you think the purpose of life is? 

Thelonious Monk: To die. 

Interviewer: But between birth and death, there's a lot to do. 

Thelonious Monk: You asked a question, that's the answer.

 -- from Down Beat magazine; October 28, 1971