You could play probably a span of 50 years of me playing St. Louis Blues, and most of the time it will be different every time.

Damn it, when I'm bombastic, I have my reasons. I want to be bombastic-take it or leave it.

If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. And then I'll work 'till exhausted.

I’m beginning to understand myself. But it would have been great to be able to understand myself when I was 20 rather than when I was 82.

It's like a whole orchestra, the piano for me. And also it's to me the greatest instrument. I shouldn't say that, but I believe that this is the only instrument I can really feel happy about playing.

When you hear Bach or Mozart, you hear perfection. Remember that Bach, Mozart and Beethoven were great improvisers. I can hear that in their music.

I never wanted this kind of life that Im still living.