When I was learning by myself, despite my parents, despite my teachers, despite society, when I was fighting for building my life as a young wire walker at age 16, I didn't have feelings, I had certainties.

My parents wanted me to have an honorable profession and not to be a jester.

I walk on the wire; it's my profession, and there are no two high wire walks alike.

I am the poet of the high wire - I never do stunts; I do theatrical performances.

For two days I had the company of a girl. She appeared next to me. It was no less of a miracle if it was my imagination which had summoned her up, because it happened at the very moment I had broken down and given up.

Working as a musician, I have to constantly generate new material, so school keeps me sharp. Reading and writing all the time helps me to be a better songwriter.

Every year, I send 1,000 students to China to study Chinese history, language, and culture.

I'm very interested, for instance, in music in education - getting young people not only to listen to, but participate in the music that I write. I consider this one of the most vital aspects of my work.