"I guess, you know, if I didn't make it with the piano, I guess I would've been the biggest bum"

Thelonious Monk's quote speaks to the importance of effort and dedication. He is recommending that if he had actually not put in the effort to end up being an effective pianist, he would have been a "bum" rather. This indicates that he believes that effort is the essential to success, which without it, one is doomed to failure. It likewise suggests that Monk was aware of the significance of taking threats and putting in the effort to achieve one's goals. He was willing to put in the effort and dedication to make it as a pianist, and it paid off. His quote works as a motivation to others to put in the effort to achieve their objectives, and to not hesitate to take threats. It is a suggestion that hard work and dedication can cause success, and that without it, one may wind up a "bum".