I prefer to remember the happy things over 10 years, the things that went well. Let me see, what did go well?

We are similar to a museum. My function is to present old masterpieces in modern frames.

Miss Renata Tebaldi was always sweet and very firm... she had dimples of iron.

Expressions of disapproval are on a level of vulgarity that cannot be tolerated. The way to express disapproval is to do without applause.

The opera always loses money. That's as it should be. Opera has no business making money.

It is so much worse to be a mediocre artist than to be a mediocre post-office clerk.

How nice the human voice is when it isn't singing.

We want an ensemble of stars, not comets.

I will not enter into a public feud with Madame Callas, since I am well aware that she has considerably greater competence and experience at that kind of thing than I have.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain the services of first-class conductors. They are sick and tired of dealing with singers, as I am.

I never socialized with singers. It's very dangerous if you work with opera... I don't think that in 30 years a singer has entered my apartment.

See mirror, every time you will miss me and look deeper into your eyes till you will find me.

When I was alive, I mean the first time, Mussolini was in charge. We were at war.”“Mussolini?” Leo frowned. “Wasn’t he like BFFs with Hitler?

Sometimes, you need to downgrade your dreams to upgrade your reality.

Masume works hard and he's very thoughtful. He likes hardships, so he's very useful.

I'm goin past factories. Boxes of metal with people inside. Souls bein ripped apart.

A powerless church has nothing for the devil to counterfeit.

What I learned as an actor was the only way you could really do August Wilson's work, you had to leave an ounce of your essence on that stage,... Otherwise it was impossible.

I have some other novels I want to write. I have a lot of short stories - I love the short story.

God breaks the heart again and again and again until it stays open.

What is an artist? He's a man who has antennae, who knows how to hook up to the currents which are in atmosphere, in the cosmos.