In Europe, there is so much tradition, and everyone has established ideas as to what art should be and what it has always been.

Once you get over the first hill, there is always a new, higher one lurking, of course.

There will have to be times when I'm not conducting because I'm composing. I haven't solved that problem, and perhaps I never will.

Orchestras have become used to the emphasis on the separation of layers, of the ultimate precision and clarity.

As we watch TV or films, there are no organic transitions, only edits. The idea of A becoming B, rather than A jumping to B, has become foreign.

The act of conducting in itself, of waving my arms in the air and being in charge, I didn't miss. I missed the sensual pleasure of being in contact with music.

My music wouldn't sound the way it does if I hadn't had the experience of conducting.

Pulse as an active means of expression, Stravinsky and Beethoven are the two masters of that.

This conducting thing happened. In 1983 I was sucked into this international career, which was a very scary experience.

I discovered that the people of the North are different and there's no way you can make a person from the North similar to a Southerner. They're two different worlds.

I feel very free and very happy to be a composer.

Heartbroken men are like wild animals, running around with hysteria in their eyes, desperately trying to knock the dents out of their egos.

A person must have a certain amount of intelligent ignorance to get anywhere.

If the rabble continues to occupy itself with you, then simply don't read that hogwash, but rather leave it for the reptile from whom it has been fabricated.

Bridge is the king of all card games.

One of the adversary's sharpest tools is to convince us that we are no longer worthy to pray. No matter who you are or what you may have done, you can always pray.

I'm reminded of who I am, who I was, and who I'm supposed to be.

The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church...is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the phone and spending an evening with her.

When all hopes are lost, only then does reality acquire that sharp focus that defines who we are and what we have become.

There is a much bigger picture we are all striving for. To sweat the small stuff just stresses you out for no reason.

I want to go to Nashville and get cracking on this album.