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The World of Violins: Quotes to Inspire and Amuse
by Jules Wansworth

In every area of life, and that which involves the violin is no different, there are, inevitably, notable sayings that leave an impression on us for many generations. If you have a particular interest in the violin, or if you simply enjoy bits of trivia or pearls of wisdom, you may appreciate these tidbits from the past.

June Masters Bacher: "Love is like a violin. The music may stop now and then, but the strings remain forever."

Berlin Music Critic (1920s): (Not realizing why Einstein was famous, he said about him): "Einstein's violin playing is excellent, but he does not deserve his world fame; there are many others just as good.

Samuel Butler: "Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on."

Paul Desmond: "I would like to thank my father, who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age."

Albert Einstein: "A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?"

John Lubbock: "Happiness is a thing to be practiced, like the violin."

Robert Schumann: "If we were all determined to play the first violin, we should never have an ensemble. Therefore, respect every musician in his proper place."

Tommy Cooper: "I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, Rembrandt made lousy violins, and Stradivarius was a terrible painter."

Honore de Balzac: "The majority of husbands remind me of an orangutan trying to play the violin."

Napoleon Bonaparte: "I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies."

Georgia O\'Keeffe: "Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since I cannot sing, I paint."

Ethel Barrymore: "Fundamentally I feel that there is as much difference between the stage and the films as between a piano and a violin. Normally, you can\'t become a virtuoso in both."

Dean Martin (as he referred to Jack Benny, he exclaimed): "When Moshe Dayan heard him play, he took the patch off his eye and put it over his ear."

Fred Allen: "When Jack Benny plays the violin, it sounds as if the strings are back in the cat."

George Burns: "Jack [Benny] was tremendously talented, and I can honestly say I\'ve never heard anyone play the violin the way he did...and I'll always be grateful for that, too."

New York Post Critic (again, poor Jack Benny): "Last night, Jack played Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn lost."

Even people who are otherwise unaffected by music often succumb to the haunting power of the violin The violin has a way of playing to the very souls of those who hear its melody. Luckily for us, they are frequently moved to their feelings and insights about the violin.

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