Quotes About Mastery

I have a strong command of what's going on in the company.

I always want to be the best at what I do. That doesn't mean compared to other people, but just in what you do.

It's important to see the work of as many directors as possible but you must not become self-conscious. You have to accept that your first attempts are going to be quite rough compared to the finished works of great masters.

I'm becoming a more complete player where I believe I can compete more week in, week out, especially in major championships.

I have to stop rushing things. I have to be composed in my mind and slow things down. I think that will make me a better finisher.

Brahms is one of my all-time favorite composers.

Sometimes it's better if you can play in only one position. You see that with other players. These guys specialise in one position and they can completely concentrate.

When you are concentrating on baking 24/7, it is incredible how much you learn.

The concept of power we admire is power over someone else.

I really want to get better at conducting.

Conductors start getting good when everybody else retires.

Composers are not all good conductors.

I played with the best conductors of the world.

You must have confidence in your competence.

You have to do stand-up quite a long time before you learn how to do it well. It was probably years before I was confident enough in stand-up that I was able to talk about the things I wanted to talk about, the way I wanted to talk about them.

One thing about me, as far as my career is concerned, is that I'm very confident. I know I'm good.

It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.

When I'm afraid of something, I'm going at it twice as hard. I don't believe any fear can be conquered by avoiding it.

I feel so entirely in my element with a full orchestra; even if my mortal enemies were marshalled before me, I could lead them, master them, surround them, or repulse them.

Assuming that his talent can survive the increasing strain, there is one scarcely avoidable danger that lies ahead of the pupil on his road to mastery.

I'm one of the guys that thinks you have to spend a lot of time at whatever your craft is in order to sustain it, and in order to get better at it.

When I think of a lot of the players I admire, they could always play their parts without hiding behind distortion and sustain.

I learned from my father how to swear right and how to string it together for optimum effect/affect. I use it like karate. I bring it out when it's needed.

Mastery is great, but even that is not enough. You have to be able to change course without a bead of sweat, or remorse.