I am a gardener of infinite time.

Although I am basically self taught, I consider Debussy my teacher - the most important elements are colour, light and shadow.

Music should be able to invoke the natural emotions in all human beings. Music is not notes fixed on apiece of paper.

I probably belong to a type of composer of songs who keeps thinking about melody... I am old fashioned.

I always want to write erotic music... Not only about the love between men and women, but in a much more universal sense - about the sensuality of the mechanism of the universe... about life.

Music is a form of prayer.

My teachers are Duke Ellington and nature.

Composition gives proper meaning to the natural streams of sound that penetrate the world.

We don't get to choose if we get hurt in this world, old man, but we do have a say in who hurts us. I know I like my choices. I hope she likes hers.I do, Augustus. I do.

Kindness goes a long ways lots of times when it ought to stay at home.

It's a rare gift, you know, to feel reverence for your own life and to want the best, the greatest, the highest possible, here, now, for your very own.

I see through your brain like I see through the water that runs down the drain.

If you put a demo on the net and people say it was the finished version then they're going to say it sucks. I really hate that.

We talk about taking "pleasure in a thing": but in truth it is pleasure in ourselves, mediated by a thing.

My crazy's working a lot better than your sanity.

I have an affinity for Disney and the Princess.

letting be is as important as mastering. Our tradition has encouraged us to be effective, to make or fabricate but not to let be born or let be.

Knowledge is understanding based on what has been studied and learned. Wisdom is understanding based on what has been felt and experienced.