The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

by Mitch Albom

But you cannot change your past, no matter how you craft your future.

One must indeed test the strings in this life, bounce the bow, wet the mouthpiece, prepare for the deeper music that follows.

Sometimes I think the greatest talent of all is perseverance.

Everyone joins a band in this life. One way or another, the band breaks up.

“The secret is not to make your music louder, but to make the world quieter.”

Man searches for courage in drink, but it is not courage that he finds, it is fear that he loses.

Be it opium or absinthe, marijuana or heroin, cocaine or ecstasy or whatever will follow, you may alter your state, but you will not alter this truth: I am Music. I am here inside you. Why would I hide behind a powder or a vapor? Do you think me so petty?

I have said that music allows for quick creation. But it is nothing compared with what you humans can destroy in a single conversation.

There are songs that you play that you have to restart, and songs that you play that you never get right. But when a song is complete, there is no more you can do.

This is life. Things get taken away. You will learn to start over many times—or you will be useless.”

Inside all humans is the entirety of your memories, the ones you can access and the ones you cannot.

“The greatest thing, you’ll ever learn Is just to love, and be loved in return.”

At a certain point, your life is more about your legacy to your kids than anything else.

Everyone joins a band in this life. Some of them break your heart.

Everyone joins a band in this life. And what you play always affects someone. Sometimes, it affects the world.