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

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.

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.

Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.

Every morning when I wake up, I make up my mind to solve as many problems, before retiring home

I should think I'm going to be a perpetual student.

As far as career goes, make sure you're in it for the right reasons - and make sure that the work itself is the most important thing.

It was when Lucifer first congratulated himself upon his angelic behavior that he became the tool of evil.

A continual atmosphere of hectic passion is very trying if you haven't got any of your own.

When we open our heart up to someone, that energy, of course, comes into us.

Who knows the end? What has risen may sink, and what has sunk may rise. Loathsomeness waits and dreams in the deep, and decay spreads over the tottering cities of men.

A-plus players like to work together and they don't like it if you tolerate B work.

I want to take piano lessons, I want to study at university, I want to travel, I want to do other parts, make another movie.