Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above the price of rubies.
The most necessary, the most important, the principal, the most essential thing for a musician is this: to know what he wants, what he can do, and what he ought to do.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.