I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.

The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly.

It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

The only true immortality lies in one's children.

Har' icyumba satani atemerewe kujyamo n'umutima wawe kereste wowe umwemereye

Sow a thought and reap an action, sow an action and reap a habit, sow a habit and reap a destiny - John Cleaver

Silence is not our heritage but our destiny

President Trump is doing a great job of demonstrating how mean the rich can be to the poor, sick and elderly.

I struggled in the beginning. I said I was going to write the truth so help me God. And I thought I was. I found I couldn't. Nobody can write the absolute truth.

Anger is too pathetic. Anger is as weak as fear.

Whenever we submit our will to someone else’s opinion, a part of us dies

When people try to take [smoking] away from me I say, 'hey, I stopped everything else.' But, I have to battle that one, too.

I've really gone into business since I got the 6 string, which was like starting all over.

I like to go and do something adventurous. I like to go out and do some sort of crazy activity.