My teacher, my great cello teacher Leonard Rose, was such a

Yo-Yo Ma, the master of the cello and a poet of sound, once spoke with reverence: “My teacher, my great cello teacher Leonard Rose, was such a great cellist, and nurturing man, very patient. But I grew up not only admiring him, but obviously Casals, Rostropovich, Jacqueline du Pré, and many others, including many of my peers and contemporaries.” In these words, he reveals a truth older than the strings of any instrument: greatness is not born in isolation, but is cultivated through the guidance of teachers, the inspiration of masters, and the fellowship of peers.

O listener, see how he honors his teacher Leonard Rose—not merely for skill, but for patience and nurturing spirit. This is the essence of true teaching: not only the transmission of technique, but the cultivation of the soul. A teacher who is stern without compassion may shape ability but not character. A teacher who is patient, kind, and yet demanding, forges not only skill but love for the craft. Thus Yo-Yo Ma reminds us that the greatest gift of a mentor is not mastery of the instrument, but mastery of the spirit that will sustain the student through all of life’s challenges.

And yet, he did not limit his admiration to one alone. He looked to Casals, who played not only with brilliance but with a moral force that turned the cello into a voice of peace. He looked to Rostropovich, whose passion was so fierce it could command kings and melt stone. He looked to Jacqueline du Pré, whose playing was filled with fire and tenderness, whose life burned bright though short. In honoring them, Yo-Yo Ma shows that true greatness draws from many sources, weaving together strands of inspiration into one’s own unique tapestry.

Consider the ancient philosophers. Plato had Socrates as a teacher, but he also admired Parmenides, Heraclitus, and others. He drew from the wisdom of many, yet forged his own path. Likewise, Yo-Yo Ma shows us that to learn from one master is a blessing, but to open one’s heart to many voices is to drink deeply from the well of human greatness. The wise do not cling to one source alone; they honor all who have lifted the art higher.

But there is another layer in his words: the recognition of peers. Many think admiration must be reserved for the distant and the legendary. Yet Yo-Yo Ma teaches us that even those who walk beside us, our contemporaries, can be masters in their own right. To admire a peer is to cast away envy and embrace humility. It is to say, “I see greatness not only in the giants of the past, but in those who labor with me in the present.” Such humility is the mark of true wisdom.

The meaning, then, is clear: no artist, no thinker, no leader rises alone. Each is shaped by the hands of teachers, the example of heroes, and the inspiration of companions. To forget this is to fall into pride and blindness. To remember it is to live in gratitude and humility, knowing that every note we play, every word we speak, carries within it the echoes of countless others.

Therefore, children of tomorrow, take this teaching to heart: honor your teachers, not only for their knowledge but for their patience and care. Seek out inspiration in the great masters of your craft, past and present, and let their fire kindle your own. And above all, do not despise your peers, for in their work you may find guidance as powerful as any legend. Walk through life not as a solitary genius, but as part of a great chain of learning and inspiration stretching across generations.

For in the end, the song of your life will not be yours alone. It will be a chorus of voices—your teacher, your heroes, your peers—blended with your own. And if you live with gratitude, humility, and reverence, then your voice, like Yo-Yo Ma’s, will in turn inspire those who come after, continuing the eternal chain of mastery, beauty, and love.