Take dinner, for instance. Think about how boring it would be to eat the same food night after night. You eat different things to make dinnertime more interesting and enjoyable. Judas Maccabaeus excellently illustrates how a piece of music can be successfully varied. All of the variations are based on the piece, but each has a different feeling.
Variations are like moods and emotions.
A piece can be playful, sad or angry. The next time you hear a classical piece, keep these things in mind. Reflect on the way it touches you in ways that cannot be expressed in words. Remember that you do not need special knowledge to understand the music. You will form a lifelong connection with the music if you give it a second or even third chance.