Music related
· Perfection is not a destination - it's a journey.

· Responsibility can be viewed as (one's) response to (God-given) ability.

· Perfection alone is of little value unless backed by correctness; in fact, perfection without the right approach could have negative value.

· In practice, patience is the key - no point in chasing short-cuts. Shortcuts are the longest routes to success, if one is lucky. If not, they are sure dead ends.

· Tradition and innovation are two sides of the same coin; too much need not be made out of either term.

· 'Innovation' should not be a camouflage for shaky foundations in tradition for those too lazy to meet the rigours of classicism; unless it is the product of genius, such fly by night innovation can hardly hope to stand the test of thorough analysis.

· It is not enough merely to have command over various aspects - it is more important to have the ability to control what one commands.

· The basic difference between the good and great is that while the former stimulates admiration the latter inspires emulation.

· In music (as well as life), the minute should never be confused with minor.

· Flaws are like cancer - if we are not passionately watchful all the time, they can creep in on us and engulf us in no time.

· Tyagaraja's compositions have been equated to grapes (easiest to savour), Dikshitar's to coconut (get through several layers before enjoying the taste) and Shyama Shastri's to banana (at least the outer skin has to be removed). It would be appropriate for the works of Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi to be equated to the mango (tasty with the skin as also without - in other words, they have instant appeal as also profound content that will be evident with deeper exploration).

· Contrary to popular belief, musical forms before the Trinity were even more sophisticated than what they are today, as can be evident from a study of the creations of composers like Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi. Perhaps, the Trinity's most significant contribution was to eschew some of the more challenging features from compositions and make them more accessible to performers and students.

· The more intelligent and talented one is, the harder one must work. For, intelligence without industriousness is equivalent to shadow without substance.

· It is difficult to get to the top; more difficult to stay there and maintain it; still more difficult to regain that status after losing it.

· Most teachers give (knowledge) to live; ideal teachers are those who live to give.

· A good artiste creatively caters to audience' tastes. A great artiste creates creativity and taste in the audience. Likewise, a great composer instils imagination and knowledge to his or her readers.

General
· Character (contrary to general perceptions) is more about having the courage and strength to follow one's convictions, come what may.

· Choices are the crossroads of destiny.

· Always aim to be one in a million rather than one of a million.

· The effectiveness of a result is directly proportional to the intensity of its cause(s).

· It is essential to remember that extra-ordinary is ordinary plus something - not ordinary minus something. So do not neglect ordinary virtues in the quest to be extra-ordinary.

· It is always better to agree to disagree rather than disagree to agree.

· One who considers the possibility of his (or her) being mistaken is more right accurate) than one who is sure that he (or she) is always right!

· The greatest knowledge is to know (realise and understand) that one knows-not. The worst possible ignorance is in not knowing that we don't know.

· To forgive the repentant is godliness; to forgive the unrepentant is foolishness.

· Relativity is Absolute; the Absolute is Relative.