I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.

Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.

In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.

I seem to write an opera about every 20 years; if you live long enough you can write four operas. I finished my third in 1970.

Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

The way to write American music is simple. All you have to do is be an American and then write any kind of music you wish.

I listened to the pure crystalline notes of one of Mozart's concertos dropping at my feet like leaves from the trees.

I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Music itself is not going to let you down.

A libretto that should never have been accepted on a subject that should never have been chosen bya man who should never have attempted it.

Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing.

Musicians own music because music owns them.

Dogs were like the worst drunks - lunging at crotches then pissing over other people's shoes.

Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York.

There is nothing better to display the truth in an excellent light, than a clear and simple statement of facts.

If you're a man, you don't have to worry about your manliness.

As a practice exercise, I'd usually just wear blindfolds around the house to allow my other senses to take me wherever I would like to go.

The formula for doing a good job in photography is to think like a poet.

Often life asks much of you, and you either honor life by answering with all your heart, or you cower your way into your grave.

Refuse to be afraid that we will no longer be considered attractive and acceptable when we are strong.

Novelists who treat violence and cruelty as something to be exploited for their effect, or to enjoy the pleasure of an evacuation, are carriers of a singularly unpleasant disease.