Nothing is likely about masterpieces, least of all whether there will be any.

I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.

I haven't understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it.

One has a nose. The nose scents and it chooses. An artist is simply a kind of pig snouting truffles.

My God, so much I like to drink Scotch that sometimes I think my name is Igor Stra-whiskey.

Art is the opposite of chaos. Art is organized chaos.

Why is it that whenever I hear a piece of music I don't like, it's always by Villa Lobos?

Film music should have the same relationship to the film drama that somebody's piano playing in my living room has on the book I am reading.

A good composer does not imitate; he steals.

In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love?

I take no pride in my artistic talents; they are God-given and I see absolutely no reason to become puffed up over something that one has received.

People perish not because of lack of faith

Evil tempts every soul, but a weak soul tempts evil.

Trying to eliminate worldly temptations only makes our spiritual growth limited.

There are so many different sub-societies inside of Syria.

It is evident, then, that there is a sort of education in which parents should train their sons, not as being useful or necessary, but because it is liberal or noble.

I understand why people get desensitized and roll their eyes when they hear a protest song, or even a politician making some flowery speech. It doesn't really change anything.

Do fewer things and do them well. Focus on the things only you can do. Do the important things which must be done now.

I'm King Of The World!!!

Little sins are pioneers of hell.

Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.