I am fascinated by the engineering. The science of constructing and understanding why it stands. And I am drawn by the madness, the beauty, the theatricality, the poetry and soul of the wire. And you cannot be a wire-walker without mingling those two ways of seeing life. Philippe Petit beautyconstructdraw share on social
I have a fear of water, believe it or not. To put a wire 12 feet over a swimming pool frightens me. I don't like water. Philippe Petit fearfootfrighten Change image and share on social
I started very early, from five or six years old, to climb. To climb trees, to climb rocks everywhere I could. At some point, of course, I used a rope. Philippe Petit climbearlypoint Change image and share on social
I, like everybody else, have a certain fear of heights, and I have to be very careful when I am in the clouds, but it is also what I love; it is my domain, so when you love something, you don't have fear. Philippe Petit carefulclouddomain share on social
Certainly, in the story of my life, the walk between the Twin Towers was one of the grandest, one of the most memorable, but not solely the grandest and the most memorable. Philippe Petit grandlifememorable Change image and share on social
I didn't go to school much. I was thrown out of different schools, and my university is the street. Philippe Petit schoolstreetthrow Change image and share on social
How could I share with you how I felt when two towers that I loved, two pieces of steel and glass and concrete fell down, when actually they took with them thousands of human lives? That is the actual tragedy. But those towers were almost human for me. I was in love with them, and that's why I married them with a tight rope. Philippe Petit actualconcretefall share on social
It is treacherous on a high wire to change your focus point and suddenly look down. Philippe Petit changefocushigh Change image and share on social
An intellectual challenge presents itself? I am in bliss. Instantly, it brings forth the notion of triumph. Philippe Petit blissbringchallenge Change image and share on social
My parents were intelligent and encouraging, but at the same time, they were displeased at me becoming a wandering troubadour and wire walker. Philippe Petit displeaseencourageintelligent Change image and share on social