“There is only one school: that of talent.”

“I resented the idea of being talented. I couldn’t respect it — in my experience, no one else did. Being called talented at school had only made me a target for resentment. I wanted to work. Work, I could honor.”

“When you are in school, your talents are without number, and your promise is boundless...But at a certain point, you begin to feel your talents dropping away, like feathers from a molting bird.”

“The best musicians know this music isn't about "schools" at all. Like my father says, "There's only one school, the school of 'Can you play?”

“Cease partiicipation, if only for one day this year --- if only to make sure that we don't lose forever the rare and vanishing human talent of appreciating ease.”

“No one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent, work transforms talent into genius.”