Philippe Petit

I did a walk in 1973 illegally in the northern side of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

On one day of the week, I relax - which is not true, I work furiously on other things. 'Relax' is not a word to me.

There is a child inside me that wants to come out and do something to surprise all the adults.

I started putting a wire up in secret and performing without permission. Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the World Trade Center. And I developed a certitude, a faith that convinced me that I will get safely to the other side. If not, I will never do that first step.

Faith is what replaces doubt in my dictionary.

It is treacherous on a high wire to change your focus point and suddenly look down.

I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The beauty of it is that it's never the same. It's never easy. And yet, part of my art is to make it look easy.

I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started. And also in magic, of course. With a piece of rope, you can do magic.

I am a thief of knowledge, and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me.

I hate all electronic things that are supposed to help the human being. You don't smell, you don't hear, you don't touch anymore.

If I am practicing on the wire, and you pushed me, I would not move, and if you take a piece of wood and beat me up on the shoulder and the head, I would not move. You would not put me out of balance. You would not be able to. I am solid as granite when I am on the tight rope, and I should be.

This moment where we think we rest, when the brain is floating, you know, in sleep, is actually a moment where I could be very creative in a very strange, uncontrolled way.