I am an old man but in many senses a very young man. And this is what I want you to be, young, young all your life.

I have always regarded manual labour as creative and looked with respect-and, yes, wonder-at people who work with their hands. It seems to me that their creativity is no less than that of a violinist or painter.

You do not lose your value or preciousness when you grow to be a adult. You are still that miraculous creation. You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.

The miracle of Bach has not appeared in any other art. To strip human nature until its divine attributes are made clear, to inform ordinary activities with spiritual fervour, to give wings of eternity to that which is most ephemeral; to make divine things human and human things divine; such is Bach, the greatest and purest moment in music of all time.

To live is not enough; we must take part.

When you play Bach like Chopin, and Chopin like Bach, something good happens.

There is no substitute for work; what seems ease of performance comes from the greatest labor.