--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father was a trained accountant, a…" description: "\"My father was a trained accountant, a BCom from Sydenham College and a self-taught violinist. In the 1920s, when he was in his teens, he heard a great ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png" --- # My father was a trained accountant, a BCom from Sydenham… ![“My father was a trained accountant, a BCom from Sydenham College and a self-taught violinist. In the 1920s, when he was in his teens, he heard a great violinist, Jascha Heifetz, and he was so inspired listening to him that he bought himself a violin, and with a little help from an Italian teacher…” quote by Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png) > “My father was a trained accountant, a BCom from Sydenham College and a self-taught violinist. In the 1920s, when he was in his teens, he heard a great violinist, Jascha Heifetz, and he was so inspired listening to him that he bought himself a violin, and with a little help from an Italian teacher, he learned to play it.” [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brief recount of a father's diverse talents and early musical inspiration. **In simple terms:** Father combined accounting and music, inspiring his son. Key Takeaway Recognize how varied role models shape ambitions. Themes family inspiration music Mood reflective inspirational Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - career choice - musical training - personal development Key Concepts self‑education role modeling Questions to Reflect On - What talents from your family influence you? - How can you blend practical skills with passions? A Different Perspective Balancing practical and artistic pursuits can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountant/) [Bought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bought/) [Bought Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bought-violin-6095640/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Violinist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-violinist-1889806/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/himself/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/) [Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-help/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Self taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-taught/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Taught Violinist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-violinist-6095639/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teens/) [Trained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) [Violinist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violinist/) ## Related quotes > [There was a very famous musician in our family. He was a great violinist, an internationally known teacher. He was Leopold Auer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyorgy-ligeti/there-was-a-very-famous-musician-in-our-family-he-was-a-great/) [Gyorgy Ligeti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyorgy-ligeti/) > [The great mystery isn't that people do things badly but that they occasionally do a few things well. The only thing that is universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-great-mystery-isn-t-that-people-do-things-badly-but-that-they/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Every violinist has a different style, so it's important to be able to recognise their styles. You don't have to like everyone's style but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruggiero-ricci/every-violinist-has-a-different-style-so-it-s-important-to-be-able-to/) [Ruggiero Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruggiero-ricci/) > [One thing I always say about my mom is we were so poor, but she always made sure that we got whatever we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/one-thing-i-always-say-about-my-mom-is-we-were-so-poor-but-she-always/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [A lot of my joy this year has been to give away awards to young people, no matter of race, creed or color, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-kirkland/a-lot-of-my-joy-this-year-has-been-to-give-away-awards-to-young/) [Sally Kirkland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-kirkland/) > [When we listen to improvisational jazz, or solo classical violinists, the way they phrase and inflect melodies feels vocal, like they’re talking to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/when-we-listen-to-improvisational-jazz-or-solo-classical-violinists/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [The way you hold the bow, the way that violinists are trained to produce a note, is really different. I'm not an expert in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-molsky/the-way-you-hold-the-bow-the-way-that-violinists-are-trained-to/) [Bruce Molsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-molsky/) > [In my youth I wanted to be a concert violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/in-my-youth-i-wanted-to-be-a-concert-violinist/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [“where do you want to go? Back to violinist. I want to hear songs about suicide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-griffin/where-do-you-want-to-go-back-to-violinist-i-want-to-hear-songs-about/) [Bethany Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-griffin/) > [The mastery of one's phonemes may be compared to the violinist's mastery of fingering. The violin string lends itself to a continuous gradation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-mastery-of-one-s-phonemes-may-be-compared-to-the-violinist-s/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-knew-i-could-never-match-my-father-as-a-violinist-and-there-were/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [My Sims family is called the Cholly family. I don't know why I picked that name, it's kinda of random.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/my-sims-family-is-called-the-cholly-family-i-don-t-know-why-i-picked/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. So, when he starts thinking of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he-can-t-compose-because-he/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I'm really just a frustrated violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/i-m-really-just-a-frustrated-violinist/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More by Zubin Mehta > [I'm a Persian Jew, and we don't speak Hebrew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-m-a-persian-jew-and-we-don-t-speak-hebrew/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [I've never said, 'I live for art.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-ve-never-said-i-live-for-art/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [...Ori Kam is an outstanding violist who has already played as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra twice, much to our delight and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/ori-kam-is-an-outstanding-violist-who-has-already-played-as-a-soloist/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [New York for a long time was a kind of conductor's graveyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/new-york-for-a-long-time-was-a-kind-of-conductor-s-graveyard/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [Citizens of India, Pakistan, and Kashmir need to come together and make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/citizens-of-india-pakistan-and-kashmir-need-to-come-together-and-make/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [I have been to Kashmir many times, especially with my family, in the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-have-been-to-kashmir-many-times-especially-with-my-family-in-the-70s/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [In truth, I became a conductor because deep down I wanted to conduct Brahmss four symphonies and Richard Strausss tone poems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/in-truth-i-became-a-conductor-because-deep-down-i-wanted-to-conduct/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [I'm a pucca Indian. Bombay is my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-m-a-pucca-indian-bombay-is-my-home/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [My tastes are Viennese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/my-tastes-are-viennese/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [Music is the message of peace, and music only brings peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/music-is-the-message-of-peace-and-music-only-brings-peace/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [I am jealous of all those people who live on the shore of Dal Lake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-am-jealous-of-all-those-people-who-live-on-the-shore-of-dal-lake/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [Most Arab Israelis speak Hebrew, but not the other way around. It's about time that changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/most-arab-israelis-speak-hebrew-but-not-the-other-way-around-it-s/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [ Essentially, the \[New York\] Philharmonic is just like any other orchestra-they all have the spirit of kids, and if you scratch away a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/essentially-the-new-york-philharmonic-is-just-like-any-other/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [I always look at the work of fashion designers as if they were art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-always-look-at-the-work-of-fashion-designers-as-if-they-were-art/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [There are three orchestras in Munich, all world-quality, in a city of one million. Yet every hall is full.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/there-are-three-orchestras-in-munich-all-world-quality-in-a-city-of/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) [Explore all 90 Zubin Mehta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) ## More Accountant quotes > [I made $225.81 a week as an accountant, and I went to $400 a week as a stand-up. I was up to $800 a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/i-made-225-81-a-week-as-an-accountant-and-i-went-to-400-a-week-as-a/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [You can make a very good argument that society would be much worse off if you let 10 rapists and murderers free rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/you-can-make-a-very-good-argument-that-society-would-be-much-worse/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [I was an accountant for six months, and for the last three, I didn't do much work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/i-was-an-accountant-for-six-months-and-for-the-last-three-i-didn-t-do/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [Did you ever hear of a kid playing accountant - even if they wanted to be one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/did-you-ever-hear-of-a-kid-playing-accountant-even-if-they-wanted-to/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [“Financial statements are my novels, I am a Chartered Accountant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/financial-statements-are-my-novels-i-am-a-chartered-accountant/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [I could never have been an accountant. I got a D in math.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/i-could-never-have-been-an-accountant-i-got-a-d-in-math/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) > [I have a poverty demon. I'll ask my accountant if I can afford something, and he'll say, 'What are you talking about?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-poverty-demon-i-ll-ask-my-accountant-if-i-can-afford/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [You can't be the accountant in your accounting firm. You can't cut the grass in your landscaping business. You can't work on the vehicles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/you-can-t-be-the-accountant-in-your-accounting-firm-you-can-t-cut-the/) [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) > [“Let the learning be the journal of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/let-the-learning-be-the-journal-of-life/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [She was my accountant, so I just believed her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/she-was-my-accountant-so-i-just-believed-her/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [In the e-filing system, the accountant has the user identity and password of each company. This would potentially allow a rogue accountant to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/in-the-e-filing-system-the-accountant-has-the-user-identity-and/) [Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/) > [I had my first accountant when I was 20 and he reminded me I had a tax bill to pay, so I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-had-my-first-accountant-when-i-was-20-and-he-reminded-me-i-had-a/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [“If others qualify, it's a great going; if an auditor qualifies, it's not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/if-others-qualify-it-s-a-great-going-if-an-auditor-qualifies-it-s-not/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I was never a Certified Public Accountant... I just had a degree in accounting. The reason I was never a Certified Public Accountant was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-was-never-a-certified-public-accountant-i-just-had-a-degree-in/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) [Browse all 121 Accountant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father was a trained accountant, a BCom from Sydenham College and a self-taught violinist. In the 1920s, when he was in his teens, he heard a great violinist, Jascha Heifetz, and he was so inspired listening to him that he bought himself a violin, and with a little help from an Italian teacher, he learned to play it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zubin Mehta" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bcom-from-sydenham-college-and-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bcom-from-sydenham-college-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/zubin-mehta-7563_accountant_my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bco_794602.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father was a trained accountant, a BCom from Sydenham College and a self-taught violinist. In the 1920s…” — Zubin Mehta", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zubin Mehta", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My father was a trained accountant,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bcom-from-sydenham-college-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/my-father-was-a-trained-accountant-a-bcom-from-sydenham-college-and-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```