Mstislav Rostropovich Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“My mother carried me for 10 months. I asked her 'Mother, you had an extra month, why you didn't make me a beautiful face?' and mother told me, 'My son, I was busy making your beautiful hands and heart.'”

“Explain to me, please, why in our literature and art so often people absolutely incompetent in this field have the final word.”

“People are craving this great progress in electronics, going after computers, the Internet, etc. It's a giant progress technologically. But they must have a balance of soul, a balance for human beauty. That means art has an important role.”

“I never studied, but I had the best teachers.”

“Music is part of history, and our history has lessons that cannot be separated from our greatest music.”

“I have a very deep religious belief.”

“The war years were the most difficult time of my life. There was real famine in Moscow. The water froze inside the houses. There was no heat.”

“I listened to Pablo Casals, which was a big change for me. Without hearing Casals, I would never have advanced as I did.”

“I played with the best conductors of the world.”

“Baalbek is so beautiful. It is the heart of beauty in the Middle East - I want to embrace these people with my music. I will try so hard for them. Their president is a Christian, their prime minister is a Muslim. Music is for everyone.”