Van Cliburn

“I adore Russia. It's a land of such great heart and soul.”

“I was not a good student, I was not smart, and I was not good at anything. But I could play the piano.”

“Technique is a means to an end, and the end is music.”

“You know why I'm here? I'm here to give a concert.”

“The audience is the best judge. They are the ones who are paying for the ticket.”

“We are all God's children. We are all brothers and sisters. And we all have a responsibility to love one another.”

“It is for us to make the effort. The result is always in God's hands.”

“The life of a concert pianist is a lot of traveling and a lot of loneliness.”

“I'm not a serious person, and I don't like serious people.”

“I practice six to eight hours a day. I don't have to be forced to practice. It is my greatest pleasure.”

“Great music is great music. It doesn't matter what country it's from.”