My parents lived a modest life, and their main concern was the education of their children. My father was a self-taught man but had a great intellectual curiosity, not only for biblical and talmudic texts, but also for philosophy, psychoanalysis and history.

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji

I'm a self-taught guitarist, but I have a classical music background.

Adam Jones

Yes, I'm a reasonably good self-taught historian of the 1930s and '40s. I've never wanted to write about another time or place. I wouldn't know what to say about contemporary society.

Alan Furst

My great-grandfather was a self-taught man, and his library was extraordinary. I read the lot.

Alan Garner

My mom is a self-taught home cook, so books that offer guidelines on how to organize menus are critical to 'cook from the book' people like her.

Alex Guarnaschelli

I am a self-taught water skier and wind surfer.

Baba Kalyani

I wanted a guitar when I was 4 or 5, and I learned how to play guitar by the time I was 6. Just self-taught.

Blackbear

My brother Carl taught me how to play bass. I'm a self-taught keyboard player, though - I figured out our harmonies at the piano.

Brian Wilson

James Thurber was an inspiration because his drawings were so primitive. I am self-taught - I didn't go to art school - so I thought when I started doing them, 'If James Thurber can be a cartoonist, I can,' because his stuff is very raw.

Bruce Eric Kaplan

When you play with great musicians, whether they're schooled or self-taught, they keep you on your toes. It comes down to people's personalities and individual energies.

Cass McCombs

Tiger had the advantage of high school, college, and a father who knew golf. I was self-taught. Blacks really won't play golf in great numbers until some of these basketball and football stars buy some golf courses where blacks can play.

Charlie Sifford

My parents lived a modest life, and their main concern was the education of their children. My father was a self-taught man but had a great intellectual curiosity, not only for biblical and talmudic texts, but also for philosophy, psychoanalysis and history.

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji

I have a four-and-a-half-, nearly five-octave range. I probably should have had extra lessons as a child, as I am certain my family heard my potential, but I didn't. I was in the choir as a schoolgirl, but really, it is all self-taught.

Daphne Guinness

Computer programming has always been a self-taught, maverick occupation.

Ellen Ullman

My approach to being a self-taught programmer was to find out who was smart and who would be helpful, and these were - these are both men and women. And without learning from my co-workers, I never could've gone on in the profession as long as I did.

Ellen Ullman

I got my first guitar in October of 1968. I'm self-taught.

Ernie Isley

Prince was a hero. He was the brother, the black man that was a little different. As a kid, you thought, 'Wow, he's different. If he can do it, I can do it.' I read that he was self-taught, so I started teaching myself to play the piano.

Fantastic Negrito

I self-taught myself music at 19-20.

Fawad Khan

You know, I grew up very self-taught.

Finneas

I'm pretty much a self-taught player. My swing hasn't changed a whole lot, I don't think. But I watch a lot of people.

Fred Couples

I think the ability to focus is a thread that runs through so-called successful people. And that's something that can be developed. It can be self-taught.

Fred L. Turner