44 Quotes by Arthur Rubinstein

Sometimes I think, not so much am I a pianist, but a vampire. All my life I have lived off the blood of Chopin.

I was born very, very lazy and I don't always practice very long. but I must say, in my defense, that it is not so good, in a musical way, to overpractice. When you do, the music seems to come out of your pocket. If you play with a feeling of 'Oh, I know this,' you play without that little drop of fresh blood that is necessary – and the audience feels it.

You cannot play the piano well unless you are singing within you.

Yes, I am very lucky, but I have a little theory about this. I have noticed through experience and observation that providence, nature, God, or what I would call the power of creation seems to favor human beings who accept and love life unconditionally, and I am certainly one who does with all my heart.

Never sound pompous. You always sound noble, noble. Absolute character of music is nobility. Even popular music can be noble, you see. If it's not noble, then it's not very good... Music is an art of emotion, of nobility, of dignity, of greatness, of love, of tenderness. All that must be brought out in music but never a show of pompousness.

It took great courage to ask a beautiful young woman to marry me. Believe me, it is easier to play the whole Petrushka on the piano.

Don't tell me how talented you are. Tell me how hard you work.

Of course there is no formila for success except perhaps and unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.

Sometimes when I sit own to practice and there is no one else in the room, I have to stifle an impulse to ring for the elevator man and offer him money to come in and hear me