I have discovered three things which know no geographical borders - classical music, American jazz, and applause as the sign of the public's favor.

Criticism does not disturb me, for I am my own severest critic. Always in my playing I strive to surpass myself, and it is this constant struggle that makes music fascinating to me.

If the Almighty himself played the violin, the credits would still read 'Rubinstein, God, and Piatigorsky', in that order.

There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. You want to surpass it.

When people come to play music as they do to play bridge, civilization will have taken the longest stride forward since the beginning of time.

No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.

Music has a lot in com­mon with math­e­mat­ics. But in music, two and two need not make four: they add up to what­ever you wish.