I did a walk in 1973 illegally in the northern side of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Philippe Petit bridgeharborillegally Change image and share on social
In my life, I wanted to meet certain people. I never met Charlie Chaplin, but I met Werner Herzog. Philippe Petit chaplincharlieherzog Change image and share on social
I'm a wire-walker, but actually, I'm a moviemaker that hasn't done his first movie. Philippe Petit moviemoviemakerwalker Change image and share on social
I started making monkey bridges, like kids do, and climbing and rappelling with ropes. Very naturally, I needed some knots. At the very beginning, I didn't care, I didn't know, and then slowly I started to know, and I started to care. I wanted to know more knots or the right knot for the special action. Philippe Petit actionbeginbridge share on social
I started putting a wire up in secret and performing without permission. Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the World Trade Center. And I developed a certitude, a faith that convinced me that I will get safely to the other side. If not, I will never do that first step. Philippe Petit bridgecentercertitude share on social
My journey has always been the balance between chaos and order. Philippe Petit balancechaosjourney Change image and share on social
You see, it's actually very good that a human activity is performed very close to death, because that's where life is. Life is, at its most valuable and most full, very close to the boundary of life. Philippe Petit activityboundaryclose Change image and share on social
As a high wire walker, I do not allow myself to 'leave the wire' during a performance. Philippe Petit highleaveperformance Change image and share on social
It would be very, very dangerous for a wire walker to experience fear while he is balancing on the wire. Fear has its place on earth, before and maybe after a high-wire walk, but not during for me. Philippe Petit balancedangerousearth Change image and share on social
I keep saying I am an auto-didact, but I have a lot of outside influences. One I could cite is juggler Francis Brunn, who was the first man to throw ten rings in the air; he was really an amazing juggler who showed onstage the quest for perfection. Philippe Petit airamazeauto share on social