140 Quotes by Daniel Barenboim

Sound is often talked about in a very subjective way, as if it had a colour. This is a bright sound, this is a dark sound. I don’t believe in that because I think that is much too subjective.

The ear plays the role of the guide in the museum in the concert I’m taking now. We don’t have an oral guide, we have to provide it ourselves. One reason why active listening is absolutely essential.

An Israeli who thinks that his government is doing everything right wouldn’t join the Divan Orchestra in the first place.

I don’t believe that the entire world is constantly anti-Semitic.

Now the first step has to be taken, the step towards democracy. This step is full of risks, and requires trust on all sides. We don’t know where it will lead. But if we just stand still, we will have no chance of escaping the violence.

Israel’s strategy cannot be to constantly confront the Palestinians with the history of the Holocaust, but instead to show them that Israel is a reality.

Most of the time I spend looking for the 25th hour in the day, the ninth day in the week, the 32nd day in the month and the 367th, eighth or 70th day in the year because I feel I have a very rich life.

I don't believe in changing the unchangeable.

We need to take music out of the ivory tower - both for musicians and for the public. Otherwise, classical music will not survive the 21st century.