Paganini's Violin

“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)

Modern-day equivalent: “With great power comes great responsibility." (Uncle Ben to Peter Parker - Spiderman, 2002)

Paganini, who was one of this planet’s greatest violinists, died in 1840. Before his death, he bequeathed his violin to his birthplace, Genoa. His only caveat was that nobody should play his violin after his death. The city of Genoa agreed and displayed Paganini’s violin in a beautiful case.

Other violins of the same vintage were handed from generation to generation – and survived the passage of time. Paganini’s violin, however, decayed and crumbled from misuse.