When I attained my seventh year, my father, whose ear was unmusical but who was nevertheless passionately fond of music, gave me my elementary lessons on the violin; in a very few months, I was able to play all manner of compositions at sight.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the early musical training a young Paganini received from his father, highlighting the passion for music despite a lack of musical talent.
In this quote, Niccolo Paganini recounts the significant influence his father had on his musical development during his childhood. The father's deep love for music, despite his inability to perceive it, led him to impart his knowledge to Paganini, who quickly excelled in playing the violin. This illustrates the power of passion and encouragement in fostering talent, suggesting that dedication and support can lead to remarkable achievements, even in the face of limitations.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of arts in education, one might say: 'As Niccolo Paganini's father believed in him despite his own limitations, we too should foster our children's creative passions.'
At Vienna, one of the audience affirmed publicly that my performance was not surprising, for he had distinctly seen, while I was playing my variations, the devil at my elbow, directing my arm and guiding my bow. My resemblance to the devil was a proof of my origin.
Art is never chaste. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently prepared. Yes, art is dangerous. Where it is chaste, it is not art.
A stage play is basically a form of uber-schizophrenia. You split yourself into two minds - one being the protagonist and the other being the antagonist. The playwright also splits himself into two other minds: the mind of the writer and the mind of the audience.
I dreamed of having a book of my own, of writing one that I could put on a shelf.
'Brown Girl Dreaming' was a book I had a lot of doubts about - mainly, would this story be meaningful to anyone besides me? My editor, Nancy Paulsen, kept assuring me, but there were moments when I was in a really sad place with the story for so many reasons. It wasn't an easy book to write - emotionally, physically, or creatively.
Beautiful things don't ask for attention.
I think an artist, in my definition of that word, would not be someone who takes sides with the emperor against his powerless subjects. That's different from prescribing a way in which a writer should write.
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