Beginnings play their prized part in every finished human accomplishment, for beginnings mean the birth of added progress.

If I miss one day of practice, I notice it. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience notices it.

A man is not necessarily a master because he happened to compose two or three centuries ago. Let us beware of the worship of mere antiquity.

Piano playing is more difficult than statesmanship. It is harder to awake emotions in ivory keys than it is in human beings.

I loved your country [America] before I knew it.

Rhythm is the pulse of music.

I am nothing! If you could know the dream of what I would like to be, you would realize how little I have accomplished.