Jessye Norman Quotes & Sayings

“I have enjoyed most particularly reading the correspondence between Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. The genuine friendship, competitiveness and support that thread through their communications are life lessons for us all.”

“A person has the right, and I think the responsibility, to develop all of their talents.”

“I want to keep learning, keep exploring, keep doing more.”

“One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.”

“Growing up in Augusta in such a protected and loving community is something that I really enjoy talking about. I love talking about - even though I grew up, of course, in the time of segregated schools: Brown vs. Board of Education came along after I was already in first grade.”

“I am deeply spiritual; I revel in those things that make for good - the things that we can do to shed a little light, to help place an oft-dissonant universe back in tune with itself... Long live art, long live friendship, long live the joy of life!”

“I try to frighten my very young colleagues into studying and understanding their voices before they attempt things that are beyond them. It's wise to take gymnastics and swimming to strengthen the body, because people don't realise what an athletic undertaking singing actually is.”

“'Swan,' by Mary Oliver. Poems and prose. Reading from this book is as if visiting a very wise friend. There is wisdom and welcoming kindness on every page.”

“I am grateful that my horizons were not narrowed at the outset.”

“Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself.”