"The musicians I respected were much older than me. I expected them to cut my head, and they did"

Wynton Marsalis' quote speaks to the regard he had for the older musicians he looked up to. He knew the fact that they had more experience and knowledge than him, and he was willing to learn from them. He was likewise conscious that they might be important of him, and he was prepared for that. He expected them to be tough on him and to challenge him, and they did. This quote talks to the humility and respect Marsalis had for the musicians he looked up to, and his determination to learn from them. It likewise speaks to the value of having coaches and role models in life, and the worth of gaining from those who have actually preceded us. Marsalis' quote is a pointer of the importance of appreciating those who have come before us, and of learning from them.