That first concept is alway the most naturally and best. The mind errs, the emotion never.

If we were all determined to play the first violin we should never have an ensemble. therefore, respect every musician in his proper place.

The principal mark of genius is not perfection, but originality.

To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.

Talent works, genius creates.

When you play, never mind who listens to you.

For me, music is always the language which permits one to converse with the Beyond.

Play always as if in the presence of a master.

I am so fresh in soul and spirit that life gushes and bubbles around me in a thousand springs.

When you play, do not trouble yourself as to who is listening. Yet always play as though a master listened to you.

In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of.

God appreciates ordinary people

True intelligence operates silently. Stillness is where creativity and solutions to problems are found.

I'm very grateful that I was too poor to get to art school until I was 21. . . I was old enough when I got there to know how to get something out of it.

My confidence in the future of literature consists in the knowledge that there are things that only literature can give us, by means specific to it.

A great man is made up of qualities that meet or make great occasions.

I don't feel that any of my greatness has been covered over.

You are sad in the midst of every blessing. Take care that Fortune does not observe--or she will call you ungrateful.

The world can no more have two summits than a circumference can have two centres.

The photograph doesn't claim to be a participant, or to know, or to be a club member of whatever it's documenting - photography is more demanding when it doesn't pretend to know.